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News.com.au
an hour ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Inhumane': North Melbourne public housing residents protest ahead of demolition
Selling off public housing is inhumane and tells war-fleeing refugees that Australia does not want them, a Melbourne housing advocate says. For a second day on Tuesday, residents and supporters tried to stop workers entering the public housing tower on Alfred St, North Melbourne. The public housing towers are slated for demolition, to be replaced with charity-owned community housing and 'affordable' apartments. Notable Melbourne housing advocate Jordan van den Lamb told NewsWire the process for getting residents out of Alfred St had been inhumane. The replacement public houses were too small for families, and the relocations on offer were away from residents' existing support networks, he said. On Tuesday, dozens of residents and supporters protested outside the housing towers, Mr van den Lamb said. 'They're not building any three-bedroom homes. This stuff is like 'we're going to demolish a three-bedroom home and replace it with three one-bedroom apartments. 'What message does that tell to someone who's got a large family and is fleeing war? … 'We don't care about you. We don't want you to live in public housing'.' Residents were unwilling to speak to NewsWire for fear of jeopardising their applications for a new home. The apartments at the new, redeveloped Alfred St site will be leased to the private sector for 40 years. Housing Minister Harriet Shing has criticised Greens politicians – who were at the protest on Monday – for spreading fear. 'No demolition works are scheduled while people are living in the towers,' she said in a statement to NewsWire. 'While we're getting on with delivering modern and accessible homes for people on the social housing register, the Greens continue to spend their time spreading misinformation and creating fear without offering actual solutions.' A notice issued on Friday informed residents that workers in high-vis and hazmat suits would be arriving during the week to 'carry out concrete investigations in empty apartments'. Four towers at the nearby Flemington Estate are also set to be demolished. Some residents of Flemington Estate and Alfred St towers have already left their homes, relocated to other public houses. A chorus of remaining residents want all relocations to be sorted before any preliminary works are done on the buildings. 'Commencing works while residents remain in their homes is premature, inappropriate, and deeply disrespectful,' a joint letter from tenants to Homes Victoria says. 'We are still living in this building. Regardless of how many residents remain, this is our home, not a construction site. 'The presence of workers in hazmat suits, disruptive noise, restricted access and diminished privacy in the name of redevelopment planning sends a clear message that the wellbeing and dignity of the remaining residents are being ignored.' Days before retiring from politics, then Premier Dan Andrews announced Melbourne's 44 public housing towers would be knocked down and redeveloped. The residents – numbering somewhere between 10,000 and 13,000 – were not informed before Mr Andrews donned high-vis and made the announcement to the media. The plan is part of a massive 'urban renewal' push. The project has a deadline of 2051 and promises by the end the state will have 10 per cent more social houses. Social housing is an umbrella term for public housing and community housing. Public housing is state-owned and community houses are owned by not-for-profit organisations. The redevelopment scheme also includes 'affordable housing' – units capped at 90 per cent of market rent.
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
National report card praises P.E.I. for housing policy, while pointing out some low points
A nationwide report card by the Missing Middle Initiative gives P.E.I. some favourable reviews for its overall approach to housing policy, while flagging some areas where the Island needs to do better — including banning new homes in flood-prone areas. CBC's Cody MacKay spoke to the group's founding director to learn more.
