Deb Foskey, ACT Greens MLA, today raised concerns that public housing is missing out in the redevelopment of yet another decommissioned public housing site.
“Burnie Court in Lyons provided homes to 264 public housing tenants before it was demolished in 2001, contributing to the loss of more than 1000 public housing units in condemned multi-residential developments,” said Dr Foskey.
“Seven years later, it is to be redeveloped with around 200 units, none of which will be public housing.”
“I acknowledge the 24 public housing for older tenants nearby on Freycinet St, and I am also glad to see that 12 or so of the new dwellings will be affordable housing (75% of market rents) through CHC Affordable Housing.”
“Nonetheless I am concerned that every time we lose a multi-residential housing complex, any replacement dwellings are located away from amenities. Public housing tenants have the least resources and need to be able to access services close to hand.”
“Recently we saw that Fraser Court is to become upmarket housing and this seems to be the direction being taken on the Lyons Estate - the lesson seems to be that the land around town centres is too valuable for public housing.”
“The Greens don’t want to recreate the mistakes of the past, by putting a large number of disadvantaged people together on one site.”
“What we need instead is inclusionary zoning, a mandated level of affordable and social housing, including community housing and public housing.”
“This is how cities in the US, Canada and Ireland have tackled their need for affordable housing, but the Government and Opposition rejected the idea when I proposed it in 2005.”
“This ensures a good social mix, which has always been a basic principle in Canberra’s planning.”
“Its not too late to make the Lyons Estate part of the solution to our affordable housing problem,” said Deb Foskey.
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