Corio residents back social housing move as Bell Post Hill, Belmont strongly oppose council plans

Geelong council is pushing with its plan to create public housing in three suburbs, despite strong objections from the community at two of those sites.

Geelong council is continuing to look at creating public housing on three pieces of land, despite strong objections from the community at two of those sites.

The city’s plans come after the latest census revealed Geelong’s population was more vulnerable than the state average, with more people at-risk and in need of housing ­support.

The three sites – 116-120 Purcell Rd at Corio, 5a Dean St at Belmont, and 2-14 Rollins Rd, Bell Post Hill (not including 8 Rollins Rd) – were put to community consultation process in March, with more than 730 submissions.

The Corio site was sup­ported by 67 per cent of those who submitted, with most of the comments relating to the urgent need for housing.

At the Belmont site, however, about 80 per cent of ­respondents with a connection to the land disapproved and 61 per cent of the wider community also objected.

Those numbers were stronger for the Bell Post Hill parcel, where 90 per cent connected to the site objected, as did 68 per cent of the wider community.

Respondents said they would rather see the Belmont and Bell Post Hill sites used as green space.

They were also concerned about traffic, anti-social behaviour and the ­impact on property values.

Additional concerns related to the lack of detail on the ­proposals.

The city’s director of community life, Robyn Stevens, emphasised no final decision had been taken, but said council would now look to partner with a community housing provider as part of its planning.

“The city’s aim is to select a community housing partner and then in 2023 the community will have the opportunity to be involved in a collaborative design process,” Ms Stevens said.

“Once this process is complete ... the sites will come before the council for a ­decision.

“Until that time, the council will not have a set position.”

According to the latest census data, Greater Geelong’s population ballooned by more than 30,000 people in four years, reaching 271,057.

The region also had more single-parent families (16.3 per cent) than the Victorian average (15.2 per cent) and more residents reporting mental health concerns.

In 2020-21, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare recorded that 4774 ­Greater Geelong clients ­accessed specialist homelessness services.

“Stable housing is vital in aiding community members to meet the challenges of life and the city has the potential to play a role in influencing housing affordability,” Ms Stevens said.

Originally published as Corio residents back social housing move as Bell Post Hill, Belmont strongly oppose council plans