Thursday, 7 March 2024

Housing

Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (10:04): Residents are moving into new housing projects built by the Allan Labor government as part of the Big Housing Build. We have got 39 new affordable rental apartments, rented out at below-market rents, in Cheltenham, which Minister Shing and I visited last week. They are modern, they are spacious, they are energy efficient and they have got great outdoor areas. Ninety per cent of these apartments are already tenanted, showing the demand for affordable homes in Southern Metro. Residents are also moving into the new development at New Street in Brighton – 291 new homes, 19 per cent more social housing on the site. Some may think this is an ineffective housing model, but talking to residents like Tanya, who moved in last week, you can see what these new apartments mean to them. She was very heartfelt with the minister and with me about just how important these homes are to her. New homes being built by the Allan Labor government are giving people the sort of accommodation that they deserve. We have new homes being built on land that remains in public hands, where residents are getting access to the kinds of services that they need. Some opposed these projects in the first place. Some oppose these projects going on. This Labor government will keep building homes for Victorians.