Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (14:13): Today I rise to celebrate the achievements of the Bangs Street community committee. I pay tribute to the many people involved in the project. The Bangs Street development will provide the Prahran community with 445 new homes, and these homes will truly be homes, located close to hospitals, education, employment and support services. These new homes will be modern and energy efficient, with a 5-star Green Star rating and a 7-star NatHERS average rating, and the pedestrian–cyclist connections built as part of the project will be a net positive for the local community. Native flora will be planted in the vicinity, thanks to the fantastic work of the social enterprise. At least 5 per cent of these homes are designed to be accessible for our fellow Victorians with a disability. It is all part of the Andrews Labor government’s big build program, a program I am proud to support. These new homes will tackle the real problems that those in the community in Southern Metropolitan are facing – namely, housing affordability and the cost of living. It is my pleasure to have recently been announced as co-chair of the Bangs Street community project, with my co-chair Judith Klepner. I am excited to finish the work with the team and deliver this vital project to the community. I commend the project to the house.