A new way forward for housing affordability in Bayside

Council is committed to working to improve housing affordability and helping to find housing solutions for the Bayside community, this commitment is now being implemented in the Improving Housing Affordability and Social Housing Options Advocacy Action Plan.

The plan reflects Council’s commitment to better outcomes in social and affordable housing and seeks to influence outcomes that maximise the provision of public and affordable housing, achieves social integration, respects neighbourhood character and ensures compliance with planning controls through advocating for the Bayside community.

Mayor Cr Laurence Evans said that Council recognises the need to address current and future housing needs with a focus on residents who are insecurely housed in Bayside and people at risk of being displaced by high housing costs.

“Whilst issues relating to housing affordability and housing access are not as evident in Bayside in comparison to other municipalities in Victoria, Council’s commitment to better outcomes in social and affordable housing is genuine and strong.

“The key objective in developing the plan is to ensure Bayside has a range of housing types available to accommodate the changing needs of the community,” Cr Evans said.

Research conducted by Sensing Value and Nera Economics Consulting in October 2017, indicated that there is a shortfall of 479 social housing dwellings in the City of Bayside.

 “We will work with the Victorian Government to maximise social housing for Bayside and achieve an exemplary public housing development that increases the supply and quality of affordable housing for residents,” Cr Evans said.

The development of the Advocacy Action Plan follows the Victorian Governments Public Housing Renewal Program (PHRP), to redevelop public housing at nine nominated sites across Melbourne, including the proposed redevelopment of public housing in New Street, Brighton.

Read more about Council’s response to the New Street redevelopment proposal.