Thursday, 2 November 2023

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:52): Following the success of the ground lease model 1 project at Brighton, Flemington and Prahran, which has already delivered more than 1080 new homes, this morning I was joined by the Premier, federal housing minister Julie Collins and the local member Michelle Ananda-Rajah as we officially announced our project partner for ground lease model 2, which is Building Communities. They have been announced to lead the redevelopment of four housing estate sites at Essex Street in Prahran, Horace Petty in South Yarra, Barak Beacon in Port Melbourne and Bluff Road in Hampton East. This particular process will deliver 1370 new homes by 2026 and will provide more safe, secure and affordable rental opportunities within these really vibrant, active and diverse communities.

Dr Ratnam, you will be interested in this one: around 500 pre-existing dwellings on the four sites will be replaced with 1370 new homes. That might help you, Mr Puglielli, around affordable housing. From the 500 pre-existing dwellings, there will be more than 650 social housing homes, more than 180 affordable homes, more than 470 market rental homes to boost rental supply and more than 55 specialist disability accommodation homes. They will also be available to people on the housing register, including people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, older women, Aboriginal Victorians and people with a disability, and relocated renters will have a right of return to the new homes once they are completed.

I also want to thank organisations such as Women’s Property Initiatives and the Aboriginal Community Housing Victoria organisation, which are part of this partnership. This is what community housing looks like. This is what consortia and partnerships achieve. We are delighted with the progress of this latest ground lease model. Thank you to everyone who is involved.