Dire state of social housing for Bass Coast

THE community is being urged to provide feedback on Bass Coast Shire’s draft Affordable Housing Strategy as more than 1000 applicants were on the Victorian Housing Register.

With the State Government currently building 36 new properties in Bass Coast, at a cost of $13.5 million through its Big Build program, the strategy found there was a dire shortfall in social and affordable housing in the region compared to local need.

As of December 31, 2022, the Victorian Housing Register (VHR) had approximately 1186 applicants wanting to live in Bass Coast. 

This is up from 693 applications in March 2021. 

However, there are only 374 dwellings available throughout Bass Coast. 

The breakdown of applications by area in Bass Coast was:
• Cowes 254
• Inverloch 315
• Wonthaggi 617

Of the applications on the VHR in December 2022, approximately 62 per cent were for one-bedroom dwellings.

It was noted that family violence makes a substantial contribution to the risk and prevalence of homelessness for women and their children locally. 

As part of the strategy, the shire will leverage the land use planning system to deliver affordable housing or including affordable housing in new developments, where negotiated with developers and make council-owned land available for affordable housing.

While objectives of the strategy include council ‘encouraging’ developers to provide affordable housing as part of rezoning proposals and planning permit applications.

The shire will also encourage an affordable housing contribution for rezoning proposals that include residential or mixed-use component, and for multi-lot of multi-dwelling planning permit applications.

While aspects of an ‘Action Plan’ include developing ‘community engagement resources / program regarding affordable housing to build community support and understanding’, at a cost of $10K.

As well as ‘undertake and/or implement training / mentoring / program for strategic and statutory planning staff to enable them to successfully negotiate affordable housing contributions on relevant planning applications’ ($10K).

Cowes and Wonthaggi, plus potentially Grantville, Inverloch and San Remo, have been recognised as possible locations for more affordable and social housing developments.

To provide feedback, visit engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/housingstrategy  before the close of submissions on June 26. 

“We welcome the Bass Coast Shire Council’s Social and Affordable Housing Strategy and are preparing our response” said Jessica Harrison from Housing Matters.

“The Shire has made un-used road reserves available, and we hope there will be more opportunities for building public housing. 

“There have been too many delays with the Big Housing Build, and it’s urgent we get moving. We advocate the tripling of public and community housing dwellings, after years of neglect. Many working people can’t afford to rent, which is damaging the local economy. 

Housing Matters is planning events during Homelessness Awareness week in August. Watch this space!”