The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria, Gaelle Broad, has called on the Minister for Housing and Building to urgently address the escalating housing crisis in Bendigo and Northern Victoria.
Ms Broad said recent news reports had highlighted the dire situation, with people camping in bushland near Bendigo, living out of their cars at Lake Weeroona, and being given tents to live in behind Lansell Plaza in Kangaroo Flat.
“The homeless are living on the streets in the suburbs of Bendigo because there is nowhere else for them to go,” Ms Broad said.
“The state government’s increased taxes and regulations are having a massive impact, adding to our current housing crisis.”
Ms Broad said real estate agents had expressed their desperation for reforms, with some receiving up to 90 applications for a one-bedroom unit in Bendigo. The additional taxes and regulations placed on rental providers are causing them to leave the property market, resulting in fewer rentals available and a ballooning social housing waitlist, now nearly 64,000 families in Victoria.
Ms Broad also highlighted the lack of response from the government regarding the old Sandhurst Centre, an empty property in the centre of Bendigo that could be developed.
“It took 12 months to receive a response, which said the question should be directed to another Minister, but it’s land like this, close to hospitals and transport services, where progress could be made.”
The Premier’s recent reforms to the planning scheme, which include taking planning powers from councils that block more homes being built, were also addressed.
“From the data, it appears as though councils are approving permits, but there may be other reasons why homes are not being built,” Ms Broad noted.
In 2021, a Big Housing Build project was announced for Virginia Hill in Eaglehawk, where 64 properties were demolished. However, the land has remained vacant for a couple of years, with local residents raising concerns about potential contamination from its former use as a mine site.
Ms Broad called for the government to share the findings of soil studies at the site and to advise how and when key stakeholders and local residents can participate in the consultation process.
“The action I seek is for the government to share the findings of these soil studies at the site and to advise how and when key stakeholders and local residents can participate in the consultation process,” Ms Broad said.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
