Mornington Peninsula receives rent relief

Federal Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib and Victorian Minister for Housing Richard Wynne today welcomed the greater access Mornington Peninsula residents will have to affordable rental accommodation with the development an innovative 20-unit housing project in Hastings.

A sod-turning ceremony was held today to kick off construction at the site, which received $3.5 million from the Australian Government under the National Partnerships Agreement on Social Housing.

The project includes 20 homes which will provide low-cost, long-term rental housing to the elderly, intellectually and physically disabled and those on low and middle incomes, with preference given to people with ties to the area.

Senator Arbib congratulated the governments’ partners in the project Community Housing Limited and Frankston/Peninsula Carers for making this innovative concept a reality.

“The project is a fantastic example of how local community organisations can work in partnership with governments and housing organisations to achieve excellent outcomes for local people in need,” Senator Arbib said.

“Soon this site will be home to at least 20 people who might otherwise have struggled to enter the housing market.”

Mr Wynne said this was another example of the productive relationship between the Gillard and Brumby Governments. 

“With the assistance of almost $100 million in Federal Government funding, the Brumby Government is building 554 dwellings for people in need, 300 of which are already complete,” Mr Wynne said.

“Beyond the units themselves – seven of which are wheelchair-accessible – the project will include a communal garden area in the centre as well as a social barbeque area and gazebo to help create a sense of community.”

The Hastings project, which is due for completion in mid-2011, is part of the Australian Government’s $400 million social housing agreement that will deliver around 1,900 homes, units and apartments by June 2011.