News

Residents doing their block over new public housing

BY DAMON CRONSHAW AND MATT CARR

29 Oct, 2009 10:10 PM

THEY'RE big, they don't need council approval and they could be coming soon to a street near you.

Armed with federal stimulus money, the NSW Government is pushing ahead with dozens of new public housing projects in the Hunter Region.

The Government is using special legislation, aimed at tackling unemployment and homelessness, which allows the Department of Housing to "self-approve" projects and bypass councils.

But angry residents say it is an abuse of process and an erosion of their rights.

The department has refused to reveal the locations of new public housing, but The Herald is aware of 200 units in 12 Lake Macquarie projects and 128 units in 15 Maitland projects.

Teralba residents are seething about 40 units planned on four blocks.

"It'll totally change the suburb," resident Val Johnston said.

Cessnock residents are angry that more public housing is planned in their area.

Resident Trudy Worthington said new units planned for Lambert Street were inappropriate because they were near existing public housing.

Department of Housing stimulus package manager Paul Vevers said neighbours and councils would be informed about plans.

"They will have 21 days to comment to an independent planner, who will review their comments and assess whether we are complying with planning guidelines," Mr Vevers said.

He would not reveal the number of units planned for the Hunter because Housing Minister David Borger planned to do so next month.

"The numbers will be significant," Mr Vevers said.

"The Hunter has a real lack of affordable rental housing."

He said people were "coming through our doors every day, struggling to find and afford rental housing".

Premier Nathan Rees introduced new laws in February to allow the department to "self-approve" public housing projects 8.5 metres high with up to 20 units in residential zones.

The laws were made to help the Rudd Government spend $2 billion on 6000 public houses in NSW by June 2012 to stimulate the economy.

The NSW Government committed $1 billion for an additional 3000 homes.

Mr Rees said in February the laws aimed to avoid the "lengthy development application process".

RELATED COVERAGE

30 Oct 09:

Cessnock units plan 'too much' say residents

comments

Date: Newest first | Oldest first

We have enough public housing in Cessnock! Look at Sin City at East Cessnock, the police are there just about every night. Not all but in a lot of cases it breeds crime and big problems because they build so many near each other. Now they are building all these town houses and units in the Hospital Hill area which was once prime land. Watch our homes drop in value. Cessnock has enough crime here as it is. Some of these new affordable public housing are two storey, they also come with built on lock up garages, carpeted and so on. I just had to borrow from the bank to build myself a garage. Enough is enough.

Posted by minky1, 30/10/2009 1:00:18 AM, on The Herald

sorry but we cannot afford 1200 dollars a month in rent at this moment i would be greatful for a home with lower rent and not all department of housing people are bogens its only the very few whom cause trouble and they are the ones whom get re housed over and over again there should be a policy if you play up you get put out no second chances given and i know some people take pride in there little units and some of the homes are very well taken care of thanks

Posted by kezza, 30/10/2009 1:21:23 AM, on The Herald

The government has no right to just drop in housing commission units where ever they like,the residents in those areas deserve the right to say no to this type of housing. If it wasn't there when you moved in you shouldn't have have it built near you.

Posted by curfewsarerubbish,taxi driver., 30/10/2009 5:42:03 AM, on The Herald

I don't know why you are all getting so upset, the new residents will burn them all down given time and then we can start again....lol

Posted by 666, 30/10/2009 7:27:40 AM, on The Herald

Bring them to my street and I'll burn them down. Anything that doesn't have council approval has to be removed - its the law - or is that only for mugs like us? Could always build them at Huntlee - sounds like another rushed, unplanned project by the NSW State Govt.

Posted by Sham, 30/10/2009 7:55:34 AM, on The Herald

I think public housing is essential but the lesson from decades past is to never lump public housing all together in one place as it inevitably results in a concentration of welfare recipients in that one place. Crime and high levels of unemployment tend to reinforce each other as a result. The solution should be public housing spread out more or less equally throughout suburbs.

Posted by Neil Cameron, 30/10/2009 8:04:00 AM, on The Herald

we need a good rethink of public housing design. people need houses but there needs to be better lay outs and spreading of them through out the community.

Posted by uno, 30/10/2009 8:48:48 AM, on The Herald

There are two alarming quotes on the Federal Govts Economic Stimulus Plan - Housing website. They are: (1) "Noting that the social housing program is on track to deliver a greater increase in the total stock of social housing than was originally anticipated, the Government has decided to reduce funds available for the final round of the program", and (2)"leveraging by community housing organisations means that the average cost of the new homes is below the original cost estimate of $300,000". Read into these two comments that our community is being sold a dud. We are getting poor quality, high density housing in our neighbourhoods which will have a negative impact on us for decades.

Posted by Andrew, 30/10/2009 9:15:44 AM, on The Herald

As a resident who is opposing the development in Livingstone St, Belmont, I'd like to make others aware of a condition of the funding of for the Social Housing Initiative of the Economic Stimulus Plan: Part 2 Key Requirements (b) (reforms that States and Territories have committed to progress under the agreement) Reform (d) "REDUCING concentrations of disadvantage through appropriate redevelopment to create mixed communities that improve social inclusion". I cannot understand how building 10 new public housing units across the road from another 10 old public housing units and on a street with lots of other public housing and a public school is "reducing concentrations of disadvantaged" or "creat[ing] mixed communities". Please explain Housing NSW.

Posted by Andrew, 30/10/2009 9:25:01 AM, on The Herald

What a pack of bigots and snobs

Posted by Putuporshutup, 30/10/2009 10:24:12 AM, on The Herald

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | next >

Newcastle Herald

Weather brought to you by:

Navigate

Classifieds

Jobs

Real Estate

Cars

Front Page

Screen name	*
Email address	*
Remember me?
Comment	*

	We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.

Residents doing their block over new public housing

Share on
Facebook

Tweet on
Twitter

Email to
a friend

RELATED COVERAGE

comments

post a comment

Most popular articles

Fairfax Digital network navigation

Fairfax Media

Newcastle Herald

Compare and Save

Top Credit Cards

Savings Accounts

Home Loans

New iPhone 4S 16GB

New iPhone 4S 32GB

Most Popular

Newcastle Herald

Navigate

Classifieds

More Ways to Read

Front Page