By Casey Neill
A Lilydale affordable housing project received a $200,000 boost.
On Wednesday 18 July, the Housing, Disability and Ageing Minister Martin Foley announced the Social Housing Investment Planning (SHIP) grant.
The State Government cash will help Yarra Ranges Council to further plan a development pegged for 67-69 Anderson Street.
Mr Foley said applicants had to demonstrate how their proposal would improve social housing outcomes in their area.
“The quality of the applications we received was very high and I look forward to seeing the impact these projects will have in housing Victorians in their respective communities,” he said.
Neal Taylor from charity Holy Fools said the news was fantastic.
“It’s been a wonderful initiative of the council and I really want to applaud the council for moving a little bit in the direction they should be heading in,” he said.
“I applaud what’s happening there.
“I think it’s a good example of what the council could be doing a lot more of.”
Mr Taylor said the need for affordable housing was “huge”.
He said about 400 people were homeless in the area, “which is 400 people too many”.
“There are others stuck in transition housing or living in bad conditions because there’s nowhere for them to go,” he said.
“We need affordable housing desperately, not only for the homeless we’ve got but a number of other people living on the razor’s edge of homelessness.”
The council’s social and economic development director, Ali Wastie, said the shire engaged with the community last year on a proposal to create more social housing in Lilydale using land surplus to the council’s needs.
She said the land was near transport, the town’s activity centre, education and job opportunities.
“Community feedback raised suggestions about parking, a reduction in the number of units and ensuring the proposal would add value to the Lilydale community,” Ms Wastie said.
“Residents supported the development of housing for people with disability, an idea that closely aligns with council’s strategic values.”
She said the SHIP grant would allow the council to consider the viability of a smaller development, undertake detailed studies into parking and traffic, develop more detailed plans and seek expressions of interest from a suitable housing association or provider.
“The grant will also allow council to engage further with the community about the proposal as it develops,” Ms Wastie said.
