My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me in visiting the new social housing development in Vermont South. Currently there is construction happening on Burwood Highway to deliver 34 new homes in partnership with Women’s Housing Limited. These apartments will provide housing options for women who are escaping family violence, women over 55 that are struggling to find affordable housing and First Nations women. This project is one of many across the state to deliver safe, secure and affordable housing for Victorian women, including those in my electorate of Glen Waverley.
It was great to be out last week with the Minister for Housing as well as with you, Deputy Speaker, the member for Ashwood, for the sod turn at the social housing construction site on High Street Road. Although not in my electorate, the site is on the border of my electorate and will provide safe and affordable social housing for those in our area, predominantly people over the age of 55. This project will deliver 96 apartments, providing housing for up to 135 people. The project is also creating 450 jobs, which is great for Victorians and great for our local economy in Glen Waverley.
As I said earlier, this project is located on the border. Many of my constituents know the area I am talking about, with a good range of shops, cafes, restaurants, community organisations and other businesses and of course Syndal station. It will be great to see the completion of this project as well as the completion of the women’s social housing project in Vermont South. It is great to see so many social housing projects underway across Melbourne delivering safe and affordable housing to those in our communities who need it most. I commend the minister and their team for all their hard work that has gone into strengthening social housing in this state. I look forward to the minister’s response.
Minister’s Response:
I thank the Member for Glen Waverley, for their question and interest in the Big Housing Build and the new social housing development in Vermont South.
The Big Housing Build represents an investment in a stronger, fairer Victoria. It is a historic investment in building social and affordable housing, that is changing lives, and giving thousands of Victorians a place to call home.
Our $5.3 billion Big Housing Build is delivering more than 12,000 social and affordable homes across metropolitan and regional Victoria and we’ve already passed the halfway mark, while also creating 10,000 jobs a year.
The Glen Waverley electorate covers the local government areas of Monash and Whitehorse. Across Monash, the Big Housing Build has a current investment commitment of $113 million to provide 240 new social housing homes and create 1,018 new jobs. In addition to the Big Housing Build, a further $7 million from other capital programs has been invested to provide 15 homes and create 62 new jobs. Homes Victoria has invested $5.1 million to upgrade and maintain 400 existing social housing dwellings. Among the 28 projects completed in Monash, 17 of them are delivered under Building New Homes to Fight Homelessness program to help more Victorians escape family violence or homelessness.
Across Whitehorse, the Big Housing Build has a current investment commitment of $71.5 million to provide 160 new social housing homes and create 645 new jobs. The overall investment is creating 895 jobs in the local economy. In addition to the Big Housing Build, a further $28 million from other capital programs has been invested to provide 78 homes and 250 new jobs.
Through the Social Housing Growth Fund, over $12 million is being invested in a project in Vermont. It was a pleasure to join the member in Vermont recently to see first-hand the progress of this project. As mentioned, this will provide housing options for women who are escaping family violence, women over 55 that are struggling to find affordable housing and First Nations women. Homes Victoria has also invested $10.5 million to upgrade and maintain 526 existing social housing dwellings in Whitehorse to ensure that existing social housing is fit-for-purpose for residents.
I thank the Member, for their continued support and advocacy for affordable, safe and secure housing for his local community.
Hon Colin Brooks MP
Minister for Housing
