City of Greater Shepparton‘s Perrivale Drive public housing plans

A council has voted in favour of a proposal to build six housing commission units on a suburban Shepparton street.

The City of Greater Shepparton will look at multiple ways of increasing its stock of public housing.

According to the council’s September 20 agenda, Greater Shepparton had the highest rate of homelessness in regional Victoria in late 2019, with 5.56 homeless people per 1000.

It said more than 1000 households were on the public housing waiting list and that 42 per cent of all housing supply would have to be government-subsidised in order to meet demand in 2036.

As such, the council’s public housing plan recommended an audit of publicly-owned assets that might be appropriate for such accommodation.

“The [Affordable Housing] Strategy draws on the premise of ‘Housing First’ that has been successfully implemented in Finland to reduce homelessness levels by a third over a seven-year period,” council documents said.

“The Strategy aims to promote increased stock across the spectrum of affordable models, including crisis accommodation and social housing to address acute housing needs, ‘alternative’ options like cohousing, which may address the needs of identified ‘at risk’ cohorts, and broader diversity in size and configuration in the market-based supply to mitigate potential future shortfalls.”

Kids Under Cover plan

Two blocks of publicly-owned land in Shepparton may soon accommodate youth transitioning out of foster care into independent living.

The council on Tuesday voted to advertise its intent to lease 20-22 Perrivale Drive for use as public housing.

If the plan goes ahead, the land would be leased to not-for-profit Kids Under Cover for the construction of six flats.

The location of the proposed Kids Under Cover studios. Photo: Council documents

The studios would accommodate six people aged between 18 and 21, as well as two of their mentors, for about a decade.

The proposal also entails the construction of a communal living room, laundry, and barbecue area.

“Council officers recommend that Council provides in-principle support to Kids Under Cover

to lease the land at 20-22 Perrivale Drive, Shepparton and begin the community engagement process,” council documents said.

“Not supporting this recommendation will result in a significant policy failure of Council in achieving its adopted and publicly stated objectives in addressing the critical Affordable Housing need evident across Greater Shepparton.”

Potential carpark redevelopments

Separately at Tuesday’s meeting, the council decided to seek public feedback on the potential future sale of the space above three car parks on High St, Fryers St, and Welsford St for public housing.

It simultatenously voted to formally decline a request from Beyond Housing and Wintringham seeking the sale of the Edward, Maude and Nixon Streets car park.

Council documents said in the instance of any future sale, most current car parks would remain.

“Council officers have formed the view that Council progress a key recommendation of the

Affordable Housing Strategy and undertake a community engagement process to seek the

community’s feedback on any potential future sale of Council-owned car parks within

activity centres for redevelopment purposes,” council documents said.

“In such instances, the majority of the car parking spaces would be retained and, possibly, provide for a mixture of uses such as commercial, residential (this may include Affordable Housing), retail, etc. in any redevelopment proposal.”

Regional Affordable Housing Summit

A state government meeting will be held in Creswick near Ballarat on October 4 to discuss the provision of more public housing.

Minister for Housing Danny Pearson and Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing will be in attendance alongside local government representatives.

The summit will focus on regional public housing and accommodation for workers.

“It’s a good thing that our regions are growing, but we recognize this surge in regional migration puts pressure on the supply of affordable housing,” Mr Pearson said.

It comes after Melbournians flocked to the regions during the Covid-19 lockdowns, increasing the cost of housing in regional Victoria.