Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Ringwood electorate

Will FOWLES (Ringwood) (14:58): (986) My constituency question is for the Minister for Housing and Building in the other place. Last year I raised concerns regarding the vacant site at McDowall Street in Mitcham, where 62 new dwellings were announced as part of the Big Housing Build initiative. Despite the government’s claims about record numbers of permit approvals, the public housing wait list continues to grow and my constituents continue to call for more affordable housing. The project at McDowall Street, announced in 2021, has yet to commence construction. Four years since the announcement and the site remains empty. This is not an isolated issue as similar delays are impacting other Big Housing Build projects right across the state. Given the critical need for affordable housing in my community, these delays are not just frustrating but are detrimental to families waiting for a safe and secure place to live. Minister, what steps are being taken to ensure that public housing builds are completed rather than permitted sites sitting vacant for years at a time?