Pitard Group finalising plans for 117 social housing apartments in Geelong CBD that will be ‘high quality and hard wearing’

The Geelong region’s most disadvantaged are set to benefit from a CBD social housing complex that has links to a rich list family worth more than $500m.

There are plans for a social housing development at 23-25 Myers St, Geelong.

A new 11-storey apartment complex in central Geelong, with links to a rich list family worth more than $500m, will exclusively provide public housing for the region’s most disadvantaged.

The project at 23-25 Myers St – once home to Kings Funerals – will provide 117 apartments that helps address the dire shortage of social and affordable housing in the region.

Consisting of one and two bedroom offerings, planning documents described the apartments as “high quality and hard wearing”.

Skye Pitard of the Melbourne-based Pitard Group is behind the development, having delivered a similar project in Cheltenham earlier this year.

Ms Pitard is the daughter of aged care and retirement village entrepreneur Russell Knowles, whose wealth, alongside brothers Russell and Graham, has been valued at $562m.

She is married to Simon Pitard, who last year was banned by the corporate regulator from being a company director for three-and-a-half years following the 2019 collapse of the Steller Group he co-founded alongside Nick Smedley.

There are plans for a social housing development at 23-25 Myers St, Geelong.

The proposal for Myers St would see the Pitard Group develop the 1955sq metre site before handing it over to a not-for-profit organisation that would manage the building on behalf of government body Homes Victoria.

“The location of this site is likely to be superior to most social housing in Geelong by virtue of its access to employment, transport, education, medical and recreational facilities,” the application stated.

“By virtue of the end use of the apartments being social and affordable housing, the proposal generates a real and significant net community benefit.”

The project has been approved for funding under Homes Victoria’s social housing growth fund, which was handed $1.38bn by the state government to increase the supply of social housing across the state.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved the project last month, with Pitard Group since applying for amendments that include the removal of a basement car park and two office levels, reducing the building from 13 to 11 storeys.

The building would be 38m high and come with 83 car parks across the ground floor and level one.

A 416sq metre ground floor retail space is also planned.

It is estimated 6000 social and affordable houses are needed to meet demand in the Geelong region.

Social housing is offered to people on very low incomes who would otherwise find it near impossible to rent in the private market.

Affordable housing is offered at a below market rate that should not exceed 30 per cent of the household’s gross income.

The proposed development site.

The Myers St site is nearby the Give Where You Live Foundation, which provides assistance to those most in need.

Chief executive Bill Mithen said the location was “prime time” and would benefit residents by its proximity to public transport and other services.

“We’re very supportive of the development, absolutely, very happy to see it happen,” he said.

Pitard Group’s social housing development in Cheltenham is now managed by National Affordable Housing, an accredited state government organisation.

Its 120 apartments provide accommodation to people with disability, survivors of family violence, single women, people requiring support and Aboriginal people.

Originally published as Pitard Group finalising plans for 117 social housing apartments in Geelong CBD that will be ‘high quality and hard wearing’