State Government heeds calls to convene urgent summit on housing crisis

UPDATED: REPURPOSING the vacant 60-room Pacific Vista Hotel at West Hobart for crisis accommodation is one suggestion that may be considered when the State Government convenes an urgent housing summit next week.

One suggestion to help meet demand for affordable housing is repurposing the Pacific Vista Hotel in West Hobart. The 60-room hotel has been vacant for years. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

UPDATED: REPURPOSING the vacant 60-room Pacific Vista Hotel at West Hobart for crisis accommodation is one suggestion that may be considered when the State Government convenes an urgent housing summit next week.

Premier Will Hodgman yesterday announced next Thursday’s summit in response to Tasmania’s housing crisis, saying it was not acceptable for Tasmanians to live in tents because they could not find affordable accommodation.

EDITORIAL: RENT SUMMIT WELCOME

The announcement comes in the wake of months of reporting by the Mercury on the state’s housing crisis, including revelations last month that working families had been forced to seek shelter in tents at the Hobart Showground after being unable to find housing.

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Tasmania’s peak body for housing and homelessness, Shelter Tasmania, had been calling for the summit.

Executive officer Pattie Chugg said she was pleased by the Government’s announcement, and congratulated Mr Hodgman on acting so quickly following the state election.

Hobart City Mission CEO John Stubley and Shelter Tas exeutive officer Pattie Chugg. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“We see this as the beginning of a very important initiative,” Ms Chugg said.

“We really need to tackle this issue, it’s such a big issue.

“We’re very pleased that the Government has treated this as a top priority in their first week back in government.”

Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania chief executive Scott Gadd welcomed the summit yesterday “provided it’s not another talkfest, and we get some serious and immediate action off the back of it”.

Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania CEO Scott Gadd speaking about people camping at the Showgrounds in Glenorchy. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Mr Gadd has been imploring the State Government to act as families turned to him for shelter at the showground.

Mr Hodgman said the summit would bring together experts in key sectors.

“We will be extending an invitation to peak bodies like TasCOSS and Shelter Tasmania, as well as key stakeholders from the housing, building and construction, property, real estate, local government, non-government and university sectors,” Mr Hodgman said. “By working together, I am confident we can identify practical actions that provide immediate assistance to Tasmanians in need.

Tas COSS CEO Kym Goodes says the summit is the first step in finding short, medium and long-term solutions to the state’s housing crisis.. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“We will work together with the experts to identify the best, immediate solution.”

Labor housing spokesman Josh Willie said his party welcomed the summit, and asked for a “seat at the table”.

“A bipartisan approach to the housing crisis is in Tasmania’s best interests,” Mr Willie said. “It’s completely unacceptable that people are being forced to live in tents. It’s time for leadership across the community.”

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor also welcomed the summit announcement and encouraged the Government to include the Greens and Labor in the conversation.

TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes said the summit was the first step in finding short, medium and long-term solutions to the state’s housing crisis.

“There is a perfect storm at the moment where the pressure through a range of factors — including population growth, tourism growth, jobs growth, and student accommodation moving into the city — has meant that the pressure put on to an already overstretched housing market has hit a point of crisis,” Ms Goodes said.

“The current crisis demonstrates the need for predictive modelling and a deeper understanding of the unmet demand in the market — for example we don’t know who is couch surfing or families sharing with friends or older parents.”

The Pacific Vista Hotel in West Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

One suggestion to help meet demand is repurposing the Pacific Vista Hotel in West Hobart. The 60-room hotel has been vacant for years.

Hobart City Council alderman Anna Reynolds has written to the owners, listed as Lunula Pty Ltd with a Victorian address, suggesting they consider leasing the property to a community housing provider.

Ald Reynolds wrote the letter in February after aldermen were contacted with the suggestion by a constituent, but has not received a response.

“We need to think of as many practical and easy to implement solutions as we can,” Ald Reynolds said.

“This particular property has generated some community interest, because people can see it’s really a wasted resource that’s sitting there.”

She said the property might not be practical to use but encouraged further investigation.

A government spokeswoman said the Government was open to all constructive suggestions.

EARLIER: THE State Government has agreed to hold an urgent housing summit in response to Tasmania’s housing crisis.

It comes after the Mercury revealed last month that working families had been forced to seek shelter in tents at the Hobart showgrounds after being unable to find housing.

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Tasmania’s peak body for housing and homelessness, Shelter Tasmania, called on all political parties to commit to an urgent cross-sector housing summit this year before the state election.

Premier Will Hodgman this morning announced the summit would be held in Hobart next week, bringing together experts from across the state in key sectors.

Scott Gadd Royal Agricultural Society Tasmania CEO with a tent used by one of the homeless. People are being forced to live at the camp grounds at the Hobart show grounds due to high rental demand in Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mr Hodgman said it was not acceptable for Tasmanians to live in tents because they could not find affordable accommodation.

“Today, we will be extending an invitation to peak bodies like TasCOSS and Shelter Tasmania, as well as key stakeholders from the housing, building and construction, property, real estate, local government, non-government and university sectors,” Mr Hodgman said.

“By working together, I am confident we can identify practical actions that provide immediate assistance to Tasmanians in need.

“We will work together with the experts to identify the best, immediate solution.”

Labor has previously agreed to participate, and Colony 47 had also called for a summit.

MORE: FAMILY DESPERATE FOR A HOME AS GROUP PUSHES FOR SUMMIT