Maribyrnong Council officers are backing a not-for-profit agency’s plans for a housing project aimed at tackling homelessness in Melbourne’s west.
Launch Housing applied late last year to locate 57 one-bedroom townhouses across nine land parcels in Footscray and Maidstone.
The relocatable homes would be set on VicRoads land in a $5 million project under-pinned by a $4 million donation from businessmen Geoff and Brad Harris.
While some residents have voiced support for the project, others have raised fears it will impact on parking, property priced and quality of life.
Council officer reports on three of the Footscray properties, prepared for next Tuesday night’s city development meeting, have recommended the project proceed on each of the sites.
The projects at 118, 121 and 125 Ballarat Road, for a combined 14 one-bedroom units, attracted a total of 82 objections, with six letters in support.
The objections related to lack of car parking, inconsistency with neighbourhood character, variations to ResCode elements, waste collection and the ‘types’ of people residing in the dwellings.
Outlined objections included suggestions that the homes are too dangerous to locate too close to families, schools and Victoria University; concern about drug, alcohol and mental issues with proposed tenants; and a risk of property devaluation.
But the officer reports indicated the proposal was consistent with neighbourhood character and would not result in any external amenity impact to surrounding properties.
The project was said to enjoy a high level of support at a state and local planning policy level.
“In any event, discrimination against the types of future tenants would go beyond what the Victorian Planning Provisions and Planning and Environment Act 1987 would allow.
“Should there be any issues resulting in negative social behaviour these matters should be brought to the attention of the police or contact can be made to Launch Housing.”
The reports concluded that “the overwhelming benefits of this proposal far outweigh any potential perceived social stigma attached to affordable housing.”
All sites were recommended for approval subject to conditions.
Three other sites have already received approval and three further sites remain to be assessed.
The final decision will rest with Maribyrnong’s elected councillors at Tuesday night’s meeting.
