Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Northern Metropolitan Region

Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (13:00): (1188) My constituency question is to the Minister for Planning. The Coburg community has recently been informed about the proposed development for the former Kangan TAFE site on The Avenue. Given a lack of activity at this site over the past decade, residents welcome development and are keen to see this land utilised for community benefit. However, local residents have several concerns. To begin with, the consultation window was less than four weeks. That is simply not enough time to properly consider a development of this size. It is also disappointing that this development is proposing a paltry 10 per cent of so-called affordable housing that would then become market rate in 10 years time, not to mention the unacceptable definition of ‘affordable housing’ being rent 10 per cent below market rate, which is already too high. This can hardly be considered affordable for most people. Considering this project will be fast-tracked as a priority project, the tokenistic commitment to affordable housing for a limited period does little for Victorians. Minister, will you allow for greater community consultation for this development, and will you commit to delivering a greater quantity of genuinely affordable housing at this site?