The planned social housing project in Myers Street Bendigo is a drop in the ocean compared to the overwhelming need for more affordable housing in the region.
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said Friday’s visit by the Premier and the Minister for Housing to the Bendigo site was disappointing.
“There are currently 60,000 people on the social housing wait-list in Victoria,” Ms Broad said.
“In Bendigo, there are 3,188 people who had registered for housing with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) at June 30, 2024.
“I’m aware of people who have applied for 250 rentals, and still have not found anywhere to live.
“The Allan Labor Government’s heavy tax burden has driven investors out of the property market and drastically reduced the number of houses available to rent. This has meant more and more people are finding themselves on the social housing list.”
Ms Broad said she was also concerned that the Bendigo project had bypassed standard processes.
“This has been fast-tracked by the Government and was pushed through without councillors seeing it.
“It will exceed existing height restrictions in Bendigo.
“There is an urgent need for more affordable housing, but this project has all the hallmarks of a government scrambling to patch up a housing mess of their own making,” Ms Broad said.
“Labor cannot manage money and cannot manage housing.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au