By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE Liberal Government has provided little certainty for an improved social and affordable housing supply in Casey, the council has said.
Responding this week to the government’s newly released social housing framework – New Directions for Social Housing: A Framework for a Strong and Sustainable Future – the City of Casey questioned the report’s consideration of the municipality.
City of Casey acting manager of strategic development David Wilkinson said the government’s framework seemed to commit to preparing social housing plans in regional Victoria but not metropolitan Melbourne.
“It is council’s view that a stronger commitment to improving the supply of social housing in metropolitan growth areas is also warranted, particularly given the state government’s commitment to the planning and delivery of brand new suburbs in these areas where there is no existing social housing supply,” he said.
According to the social housing framework, the only barrier for social housing tenants looking to access private rental accommodation is their ability to retain employment and their ability to budget and pay for accommodation.
But Mr Wilkinson said there were other barriers that had not been identified in the report.
In 2009-10, the City of Casey appointed an Affordable Housing Taskforce, which was made up of planning industry representatives, community housing providers, social support providers and state and local government representatives, to consider housing affordability impacts in the City of Casey.
“One of the key findings of this group was that there is a lack of affordable rental housing in Casey and the taskforce noted two contributing factors to this,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“The first was related to declining affordability within the purchase housing market, resulting in households that could ordinarily afford to buy a home looking to rental housing, thus increasing the demand for rental housing.
“The second, which somewhat resulted from the first, was related to increasing rent prices which has been much greater than increases in income values.
“Increased costs and increased competition make it more difficult for low income households and social housing tenants to access private rental housing.”
Mr Wilkinson has also called on the government to link a social housing growth strategy with its metropolitan planning strategy – Plan Melbourne.
“There are over 2500 new dwellings built in Casey each year, most of which are in new suburbs.
“Plan Melbourne sets the overarching framework for these new suburbs, which include substantial residential development,” he said.
“The City of Casey believes it is important to link a social housing growth strategy to Plan Melbourne to ensure that social housing is equitably provided across all areas of Victoria.
“Council prioritises new suburbs in this discussion as infill housing development is more typically located in areas where existing social housing exists, even if stock is limited.”
