Tuesday, 12 November 2024

 Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:58): (1229) My question is for the Minister for Housing. Minister, it is my understanding that the department of housing owns land in the Delacombe area of Ballarat, particularly around Leawarra Crescent and surrounding courts. Public housing has been demolished and former residents relocated with a view to make way for increased density within the area. The problem is the land has been sitting vacant for 18 months – only a handful of houses have been built. Large parcels of land currently sit vacant where there used to be homes. Meanwhile, the grass grows and the threats of wildlife and fire increase. The irony of all this is that in an effort to increase housing the effect has been a decrease in public housing in the area, and now there are less houses available than there were before. I went there recently and saw it with my own eyes with concerned locals. Minister, why has the land been sitting vacant for so long, when can we expect to see construction and when will residents be able to move back into the neighbourhood?