Hobsons Bay City Council has formally adopted an updated policy that will guide its efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing.
The policy, which updates and replaces the policy statement from 2016, included feedback received during a six-week community consultation.
Some of the key commitments within the policy include:
seeking an affordable housing contribution when land is rezoned for residential use in Hobsons Bay
lowering the threshold (from 20 dwellings to 10) for when Council will seek that a proposed residential development includes affordable housing
advocating for a new statewide planning provision that would require an affordable housing contribution for all residential rezonings and residential developments.
A new commitment was also added for Council to advocate for improved access to support services for at-risk residents, and appropriate renewal of public housing estates in Hobsons Bay.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Matt Tyler:
“We are in the midst of a housing crisis that is many decades in the making, with an urgent need for more affordable housing for people on very low, low and moderate incomes in Hobsons Bay.
“We need more than 1,400 additional affordable homes to meet local need. The biggest demand is from people on very low incomes and single adult households, including a growing number of older women who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.
“This policy will guide Council in the years ahead as we try to meet that growing demand, because everyone in Hobsons Bay has a right to secure and affordable housing.”
