Moreland Council backs away from public land ‘sell-off’ in Brunswick West

A PLAN to sell off land in Brunswick West has been labelled a “disaster” by the council, which says it will only support the redevelopment of an estate in the suburb if it remains entirely in public hands.

MORELAND councillors have moved to prevent a public land sell-off labelled a “disaster”.

Councillors voted last Wednesday to support a redevelopment of the Gronn Place estate in Brunswick West only if it was kept in public hands and 100 per cent public housing.

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Councillor Sue Bolton said the families living at Gronn Place were well established, including some displaced African families, and she had concerns there were no guarantees they would be allowed back.

“This is a disaster about to happen across Melbourne,” Cr Bolton said.

Councillor Natalie Abboud said the push to privatise the development created a “creeping gentrification” that would erode the diversity in Moreland, while Deputy Mayor Samantha Ratnam called for all affected councils to fight the proposal.

“We see more and more people sleeping on the streets ... we wonder how this slow erosion happens – this is how it happens,” Cr Ratnam said.

The State Government announced last December that the Gronn Place complex off Albion St in Brunswick West would be part of a $185 million overhaul of public housing sites.

This was designed to add a mix of private apartments and townhouses but ultimately boost public housing stocks by 10 per cent.

Under the plan the 73 public housing dwellings at Gronn Place would be demolished and the site would be redeveloped to include a total of 261 dwellings, with just 90 of those to be public housing.

Housing, Disability and Ageing Minister Martin Foley said the public housing renewal program was about using public land to get the best value and achieve the best results and to increase the number of public and social housing units.

Residents of Gronn Place vowed to resist eviction at a community forum last month.

But Mr Foley said the State Government had signed a pledge with tenants to provide assurance there would be no reduction in security of tenure from the renewal and residents would have the right to return.

Mr Foley said rent would be capped at 25 per cent of household income for returning residents and tenants would have a relocation officer to help move them to an area of their preference before construction started on the estate.