Matraville public housing: State Government redevelopment plans

The State Government has confirmed it is considering redeveloping a large public housing estate in Matraville and replacing it with 1600 units.

The State Government has confirmed it is considering redeveloping a large public housing estate in Matraville which could see homes knocked down and replaced with more than 1600 units.

A local MP has slammed the idea stating there was “no good rationale” for the redevelopment which would result in families losing backyards and developers buying up public land.

The Matraville Soldiers Settlement Estate is a large public housing estate featuring about 350 homes standing one- or two-storeys tall.

It is located off Anzac Parade between Beauchamp Rd and Pozieres Ave.

The large estate currently has about 350 dwellings.

The NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) confirmed it is in the early stages of a project exploring the potential redevelopment of 10ha of the estate to build more homes on the site.

A preliminary study conducted by the LAHC found that there was potential for 1650 new dwellings, including 400 social housing dwellings, to replace about 305 existing homes on that section of the estate.

The project would include an increase in public housing but would largely be funded by developers purchasing part of the estate for private apartments.

Community consultation will be held later this year for the project. If the project moves ahead, the planning and approval process will take at least two years.

Maroubra state Labor MP Michael Daley has publicly opposed the project and wrote to residents before Christmas.

MP Michael Daley.

He told the Southern Courier the estate was built in the 1980s, making it the youngest public housing estate in the Randwick City catchment.

He questioned why older public housing estates at La Perouse and Maroubra were not being redeveloped first.

“There are other areas that I would upgrade well before this, not knock down the youngest estate,” he said.

“It’s ridiculous. It is a ridiculous waste of money. They are the buildings that require the least maintenance (at Matraville). There is no good rationale for it.”

He said the Matraville Soldiers Settlement Estate featured plenty of backyards and space for families which was important and would be lost if the site was taken over by apartments.

He also criticised a model of selling off public land to developers to fund public housing redevelopments, stating the money should rather come out of the Budget.

The LAHC confirmed all existing tenants would be given at least six months’ notice before needing to move, if the project went ahead, and they would also have the option of returning to live in the new homes.

“Tenants will be respected and looked after during the entire process, and will finish up with new homes,” NSW Housing Minister Melinda Pavey said.

Housing Minister Melinda Pavey. Picture: Jenny Evans

Minister Pavey took aim at Mr Daley for writing to residents at the estate before Christmas prior to community consultation.

“Mr Daley was given a confidential briefing about potential redevelopment plans,” she said.

“Before Christmas however, Mr Daley chose to write to tenants and neighbours prematurely, causing them much distress over the holiday period.”

Randwick Council passed a motion from Councillor Dylan Parker in December last year which included to “communicate to NSW Land and Housing Corporation council’s deep concern over its draft proposal”.

Much of the estate is grassy areas which require maintenance from council.