Key points
- Surf Coast Shire will offer Aireys Inlet land for low-income earners.
- Shortages of affordable and social housing in the region are severe.
- More than 10,500 people on the waiting for social housing in the region.
The multimillion-dollar vacant block is a small-time developer’s dream: nestled between cafes and stunning beaches at one of the most desirable locations on the Surf Coast.
Yet, the local council says this parcel of land at Aireys Inlet will not be sold to the highest bidder. Instead, it will be developed into homes for people struggling to get into the increasingly unaffordable regional housing market.
This week the Surf Coast Shire endorsed a proposal to develop the 6669 square metre site specifically for social and affordable housing.
Surf Coast Shire mayor Liz Pattison and Anglesea ward councillor Libby Stapleton at the Aireys Inlet site.Credit:Jason South
Local councillor Libby Stapleton said every week she heard of families leaving the area because it had become too expensive, or they had lost their rental accommodation.
“We know that there are a lot of people, particularly key workers, in our community who can’t find housing,” she said.
The severe shortage of accessible homes and a spike in homelessness is forcing regional councils to set aside land for social housing, which includes public housing and homes managed by non-profit groups for people on low incomes.
But experts and housing groups say much more is needed at all levels of government to counter the crisis.
The dearth of housing is also hampering efforts by employers to attract workers in the healthcare, education and hospitality sectors because there is nowhere for them to live.
Property values have surged in the area, with Real Estate Institute of Victoria figures showing the median Anglesea house price is $1.73 million.
The Surf Coast Shire will put out expressions of interest to develop the Aireys Inlet property, which was valued at just over $2.8 million in June last year and includes four existing social housing units and a community garden that will both remain on the site.
The vacant property is just metres from the stunning coastline. Credit:Jason South
Stapleton said the council wanted registered housing agencies that specialise in building and managing homes for people on low incomes to deliver the project, and hoped it would become part of the Victorian government’s Big Housing Build program to construct 12,000 dwellings.
A council report shows there are 621 people on the Victorian housing register priority waiting list who had nominated the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet areas as their preferred locations.
It is not yet clear how many dwellings the Aireys Inlet site can accommodate, but Stapleton said it was subject to a two-storey limit.
She said the final agreement would determine how many of the total dwellings would be social or affordable housing – the latter for individuals earning less than $100,000 a year.
Stapleton insisted the developer would be contractually obliged to ensure the land was used for social and affordable housing rather than commercial development for profit.
The council has nominated another site in Anglesea for a similar development and earlier this year provided land to a non-profit group to deliver 10 units in Winchelsea for landowners seeking to downsize.
Community Housing Industry Association acting chief executive Jason Perdriau said the Surf Coast was experiencing huge rises in homelessness, increased rents and rental vacancy rates lower than 1.8 per cent.
“The shortage of social housing is so huge, we need all levels of government to be contributing to the solutions,” he said.
Perdriau said there were only 100 existing social housing units in the Surf Coast, while the broader Barwon area had a waiting list of 10,500 applicants.
The neighbouring City of Greater Geelong has identified three sites for potential social housing developments to help tackle the shortfall of 7200 dwellings.
An existing community garden and social housing units will remain on the Aireys Inlet site. Credit:Jason South
But there was mixed community support for developments at these sites, highlighting the difficulty for governments in delivering social housing projects in the face of residents’ opposition.
Council surveys showed 70 per cent of 736 respondents opposed the proposal to transfer the parcels of land for social housing, although support outstripped opposition at one of the sites in Corio.
City of Greater Geelong community life director Robyn Stevens said there was a major social housing shortage in the region, but the council would seek to work with the community to address concerns about future projects.
However, she said plans to develop the sites were still only proposals.
Stevens said the state government’s intention to convert the Commonwealth Games village at Geelong into affordable housing after the 2026 event would be a welcome addition.
“This will be an important Games legacy for the Greater Geelong region,” she said.
Melbourne University housing expert Anitra Nelson said councils needed to become more involved in delivering new social housing projects to counter the critical shortage across the state.
“We desperately need more social housing right now,” Nelson said.
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