The Borough of Queenscliffe has committed to playing its part in addressing increasing homelessness and rental stress across the region, through the release of its first draft Social Housing Plan.
However, it has acknowledged that with limited land options available, there is little it can do to provide affordable housing within its own municipality.
Queenscliffe CEO Martin Gill said the borough had been working with other G21 councils for several months to consider ways of boosting social housing options across the greater Geelong region.
The plan, currently on exhibition, details a number of advocacy options, he said.
“It’s given me some insight into the region but also our local community,” Mr Gill said. “In a community that is generally well looked after and generally in a pretty stable position, there is still some issues around social housing.
“If you then extrapolate that to across the region, there are some significant issues around social housing and while our role may not be substantial in this, I think giving our voice to the issue and supporting the other councils as they pursue building opportunities and work on Housing Victoria plans to provide social housing helps with the advocacy, but also helps us recognise that we’re never far away from problems,” Mr Gill said.
“While we won’t actually build any houses, we’re conscious that we need to do work with the community as to where that housing will potentially go.”
The plan’s release comes amid an unprecedented spike in housing prices in Geelong and along the coast, putting home ownership out of the reach of many and resulting in hefty rent increases. in some areas.
The current median house price in the Borough sits at around $1 million and none of the new properties that have been constructed in recent years would fall into the category of affordable housing, according to the plan.
It described the high cost of housing in the Queenscliffe as a “critical barrier” to affordability, with median weekly rental costs among the highest in the region.
Council figures show upwards of 70 of the municipality's 1,234 households are living on very modest income and experiencing rental stress. At present, however, there are only 11 social housing properties within the municipality - less than one per cent of all housing - with an unmet demand for up to 47 more.
In Geelong, an estimated 7,200 households who urgently need social housing with around 6,400 paying more than 30 per cent of their income on rent.
The State Government's Big Housing Build allocates $5.3 billion for affordable housing, with 25 per cent to be spent in regional Victoria. In addition, Homes Victoria will provide a guarateed spend in the G21 region including:
City of Greater Geelong - $180 million
Surf Coast Shire - $20 million
Golden Plains Shire - $15 million
An allocation for the Borough of Queenscliffe has not been specified.
The draft Social Housing Plan can be viewed on the BoQ website.
However, it has acknowledged that with limited land options available, there is little it can do to provide affordable housing within its own municipality.
Queenscliffe CEO Martin Gill said the borough had been working with other G21 councils for several months to consider ways of boosting social housing options across the greater Geelong region.
The plan, currently on exhibition, details a number of advocacy options, he said.
“It’s given me some insight into the region but also our local community,” Mr Gill said. “In a community that is generally well looked after and generally in a pretty stable position, there is still some issues around social housing.
“If you then extrapolate that to across the region, there are some significant issues around social housing and while our role may not be substantial in this, I think giving our voice to the issue and supporting the other councils as they pursue building opportunities and work on Housing Victoria plans to provide social housing helps with the advocacy, but also helps us recognise that we’re never far away from problems,” Mr Gill said.
“While we won’t actually build any houses, we’re conscious that we need to do work with the community as to where that housing will potentially go.”
The plan’s release comes amid an unprecedented spike in housing prices in Geelong and along the coast, putting home ownership out of the reach of many and resulting in hefty rent increases. in some areas.
The current median house price in the Borough sits at around $1 million and none of the new properties that have been constructed in recent years would fall into the category of affordable housing, according to the plan.
It described the high cost of housing in the Queenscliffe as a “critical barrier” to affordability, with median weekly rental costs among the highest in the region.
Council figures show upwards of 70 of the municipality's 1,234 households are living on very modest income and experiencing rental stress. At present, however, there are only 11 social housing properties within the municipality - less than one per cent of all housing - with an unmet demand for up to 47 more.
In Geelong, an estimated 7,200 households who urgently need social housing with around 6,400 paying more than 30 per cent of their income on rent.
The State Government's Big Housing Build allocates $5.3 billion for affordable housing, with 25 per cent to be spent in regional Victoria. In addition, Homes Victoria will provide a guarateed spend in the G21 region including:
City of Greater Geelong - $180 million
Surf Coast Shire - $20 million
Golden Plains Shire - $15 million
An allocation for the Borough of Queenscliffe has not been specified.
The draft Social Housing Plan can be viewed on the BoQ website.
