When
Where
Why
Australia is in the worst housing crisis in its history. The effects of this are felt mainly and most severely by low and moderate-income households.
Ìý
The State of Victoria has the lowest level of public and community housing in Australia, at 2.8 percent. Over 58,000 people remain on the State public housing waiting list; many more remain in over-priced substandard private rental accommodation.
Ìý
In this worsening situation, the State government plans to demolish Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers. No evaluations of the structural conditions of the buildings have been released. Expert proposals to retrofit the towers with minimal disruption to residents have been ignored. The demolitions will displace more than 10,000 residents with no relocation plans other than to be pushed to the front of the waiting list, meaning households already on the list will have to wait longer.
Ìý
Meanwhile, other tracts of public land deemed surplus to government requirements are being sold to private companies for market-rate residential development. Just 10 percent of this housing is required to be ‘affordable’ (i.e. it will sell or rent at 90% of market price – NOT affordable to households on less than $100K p.a.). Residential developers on private land are not required to build ANY below market-rate housing.
Ìý
This impoverished policy landscape in Victoria cannot be allowed to continue.
Ìý
We call on the Victorian Labor government to:
Ìý
1.Commission and release detailed evaluations of the structural conditions of all the towers. If and when a strong case is made for demolition, build replacement public housing nearby or elsewhere on the estate first, and relocate the tenants when complete.
Ìý
2.End all ‘surplus’ public land sales and use that land to build more public housing.
Ìý
3.Introduce inclusionary zoning on private land for a mandatory component of public housing.
Ìý
All are welcome to attend.
Ìý
This event and statement is supported by community organisations and groups, public housing tenants, academics, architects, unions, concerned citizens and a broad range of individuals and collectives alike.