Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Petitions

Port Melbourne public housing

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) presented a petition bearing 100 signatures:

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the cruel relocation of public housing tenants from the Barak Beacon public housing estate and the extreme duress they have been subjected too. Tenants were notified 12 days before Christmas 2021 that the estate was to be demolished. From early January 2022, tenants have been subjected to a relentless campaign to relocate. Some tenants were picked off through preferential treatment, while others were pressured to accept whatever other housing was available. The Government and Homes Victoria have not responded to tenant communications, instead referring them back to a relocation team. After outside pressure, consultation was arranged but was restricted in scope and did not include preserving the existing buildings. Tenants consulted with not-for-profit architects, OFFICE, who carried out a feasibility study. OFFICE developed a report and plans that exceed the goals of Homes Victoria. Through renovation of existing buildings and infill, $88 million would be saved. The Government has not responded to these plans, instead they are relentlessly moving ahead to demolish these beautiful historic buildings, starting in mid-2023.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to consider, investigate and respond to the feasibility study, report and plans by OFFICE regarding the Barak Beacon public housing estate, stop demolition activities on the estate so that any tenderer can consider the options put forward by OFFICE and allow all tenants to remain in their homes while the report and options put forward by OFFICE are considered.