Hobsons Bay City Council is intensifying its push for more affordable housing.
Mayor of Hobsons Bay Councillor Colleen Gates said that the suburbs that make up Hobsons Bay were once renowned for their affordability, but were becoming increasingly out of reach for lower income families.
“Access to secure, appropriate and affordable housing is a fundamental right, however for many people across Hobsons Bay this is becoming increasingly difficult.
“Increasing property values have forced many growing families, older people, and people on low incomes to move out of Hobsons Bay to the outer fringe areas – which, due to the increasing rate of growth, often have limited infrastructure and poor access to services.
“We can’t afford to let this trend continue, with people being priced out of the opportunity to live in our community.”
As yet there is no clear legislative direction from either the federal or state governments to address the issue of affordable housing.
“We have welcomed the State Government’s promise to trial inclusionary zoning on government land sales, which would require a quota of new construction be reserved for low income families and first home buyers, however more is needed,” said the Mayor.
While local government can assist housing supply through the planning process, councils need state government to provide legislatives mechanisms to support councils, developers and housing associations to increase the affordable housing stock.
“Council will intensify its focus on the issue of affordable housing over the next year, through lobbying the state government for legislative changes, reviewing our Affordable Housing Policy Statement, completing our Housing Strategy, and exploring as a western region how we can better support each other to address this issue.”
