The roll-out of 57 new units to house the homeless in Footscray and Maidstone is all but assured with approvals in place for six of the nine sites.
Maribyrnong councillors last week unanimously backed the $5 million plan by Launch Housing to set the re-locatable homes on VicRoads land along Ballarat Road.
Dozens of residents campaigning against the developments packed last week’s meeting that would decide the fate of three of the sites, after another three were approved earlier.
Councillors voted to follow council officer recommendations for approvals at 118, 121 and 125 Ballarat Road, for a combined 14 one-bedroom units, despite 82 objections.
The objections related to lack of carparking, inconsistency with neighbourhood character, variations to ResCode, waste collection and the “types” of people expected to be residing in the dwellings.
Resident David Bird told the meeting he was concerned by the “vast number of dwellings”, the project’s scale and devaluation of surrounding properties.
Verena Kostadinov said the proposal failed to respect the neighbourhood character and “diminishes the style and feel of the neighbourhood”.
Katherine Gow said the proposed dwellings were of a sub-standard design and poor quality, sending a message that the homeless should be willing to accept inferior housing.
Speaking in support of the proposal, Kate Breen of HousingAIM said councils had a planning obligation to enable diverse housing types.
Launch Housing representative Hong Young Tsao said the proposal to use the unused land was about giving “a fair go” to some of the 22,000 people in Victoria that identify as homeless.
Councillor Sarah Carter, who moved the motion to support the project at 125 Ballarat Road, said housing was a fundamental human right.
“This is a partnership and something unique,” she said.
She said tenant selection would need to be carefully managed and that she would prefer the units were not provided to “complex or high-need” tenants.
“This is about providing them with the stability to they can rebuild their lives.”
Decisions regarding the final three sites will be made by the council in coming months.
