‘Urgent need for housing’
A PLANNING application has been submitted for the first of 113 homes being developed to ease the city’s growing housing crisis.
Plans to build three homes on a vacant Norlane block were lodged with the City of Greater Geelong last month.
It’s proposed a single-level one-bedroom house and two double-storey two-bedroom homes would be built on the block.
Applicant Dennis Sexton said the Department of Health and Human Services-owned block was being redeveloped to help ease the state’s housing crisis.
“This site is one of many being redeveloped across Victoria in response to the urgent need to house vulnerable Victorians, especially those escaping from family violence, homelessness and life on the streets,” Mr Sexton said in the application letter.
“This Victorian Government project involves building new low-density public housing on vacant or untenanted land across Victoria. The new homes will be one, two or three-bedroom properties.
“These homes will be modern, comfortable and energyefficient, providing stability and security for families and individuals and a safe place in which to build a new life.”
In September a department spokesman told the Addy about 113 social housing properties will be built in Geelong, Corio and Norlane over the next three years.
“Seventy-three properties are set to be built in Geelong, Norlane and Corio under the government’s Social Housing Pipeline Project and more than 40 under the government’s commitment to build 1000 new public housing properties across Victoria,” the spokesman said.
He said more than 40 new homes have had permits lodged or had been identified in Geelong, with another 90 sites — with space for more than 180 new homes — being assessed for suitability.
Following the lodgement of the Norlane planning application a spokesman said the government had been working to identify sites, seek planning approval and procure contractors as part of the government’s $209.1 million commitment to build 1000 new public housing homes over the next three years.
“This work includes the Greater Geelong area and other areas of high need across the state,” he said. LOCAL homeowners are taking sustainability to a new level.
The prevalence of tiny houses is increasing, with the Sustainable House Day on Sunday set to shine a spotlight on the most efficient homes.
There are 15 houses in the Geelong region, which will open their doors to the public to showcase efficient housing and sustainable living.
One homeowner embracing the sustainable life is Sally Wills, who lives in a tiny house in Norlane.
As well as designing and building her own home, she has also designed and built three in her street. It’s so small, people will have to book to see it to limit numbers inside at any one time.
Homes in Inverleigh, Batesford, Norlane, Hamlyn Heights, Newcomb and Highton will be open from 10am until 2pm.
From 1pm until 5pm, homes in Portarlington, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale, Torquay and Wensleydale will be open for inspection.
A Batesford family will be taking tours of their large block landscaped for food production and native habitat.
For gardening on a smaller scale, a productive food garden including bush tucker plants in Highton will also be open for inspection. Organised by Geelong Sustainability, the annual event attracted more than 2300 people touring the 13 open houses last year.
For more information head to www.geelongsustainability.org.au/shd2019/