$2m housing plan on table

PLANS for a $2 million affordable housing project at Rokeby have been advertised for public comment.

A 48-lot subdivision is planned for 80 Burtonia St, which was this year rezoned as general residential under the State Government’s affordable housing strategy.

It comes amid calls for a broader and longer-term strategy to be implemented to address current and future demand for affordable housing.

A University of Tasmania report last week revealed 14,200 new social housing dwellings will be required in the next 20 years.

The development application for the Rokeby site has been submitted by All Urban Planning on behalf of Mission Australia. The report suggests construction of a new road between Hart Place and Burtonia St running parallel to Tollard Drive, and the removal of a pedestrian underpass.

Lots 1-47 vary between 450 square metres to 779 square metres, while multiple dwellings are proposed for lot 48, which is 2296 square metres.

According to the Government’s Affordable Housing Action Plan, the project will cost an estimated $2 million, with the hope construction will be complete by December next year.

The application is available from the Clarence City Council offices and website, with representations due to council by January 6.

Co-author of the December Housing Update from the University of Tasmania’s Housing and Community Research Unit, Kathleen Flanagan, said an interventionist approach was needed from Government.

“The scale of need is so extreme now in Tasmania and this problem has been building,’’ she said. “Building 1000 homes here or there is very welcome for households who move into those homes, but we need to be thinking about matching solutions to the scale of the problem.”

Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief executive Kym Goodes said a broader approach to social housing was essential. Ms Goodes said housing affordability had been affected by population growth, tourism, international students, low wages and high levels of underemployment.

“These multiple factors require solutions that look more broadly than just social housing,’’ she said.

A spokeswoman said the Government was investing $258 million over eight years in its Affordable Housing Strategy.