Affordable Housing Study No: 3

Affordable Housing Study

12 November 2009


Bass Coast Shire Council is undertaking an Affordable Housing Study to monitor the impact of the Desalination Project on accommodation in the region.


Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden, said the Study proposed by Council responded specifically to concerns raised in the Environment Effects Statement.


“The study, which is the first of its kind, will provide a comprehensive picture of all housing types, including emergency and crisis accommodation,” explained Mr Bawden.


“It will also include recommendations to address or prevent any potential negative impacts."


“We had already begun working on the study, so we are very pleased to have secured a grant of $97,000 from the Department of Sustainability and Environment to help with the project.”


Council will conduct the Affordable Housing study in three stages.


“Stage one actually began in August and involves a review of the existing Bass Coast Shire Council Housing Policy and Affordable Housing Strategy put together in 2005,” said Mr Bawden.


“This will give us a clear picture of the state of housing before construction began on the desalination plant."


“The final report of Stage one will be available to the public in December 2009.”


Stage two of the study (October 2010 - March 2011) will report on the housing situation in Bass Coast through the peak construction period.


Stage three (June 2012- August 2012) will contain an analysis of the impact of the construction of the desalination plant on long term housing in Bass Coast Shire.


“In all our submissions to the Government over the Desalination Project, Council has consistently raised concerns about the potential impact accommodation demands from the desalination workforce could have on our community,” stressed Mr Bawden.

“We were particularly focused on the long term rental market and ensuring that residents still had access to affordable housing."


“This is the second round of funding from the Government in response to our concerns,” Mr Bawden confirmed.


“Previously the Government supplied funding for Council to undertake a survey of holiday home owners, to see if we could open up new sources of rental accommodation for the desalination workforce.


“We needed to ensure the current long term rentals remain available and that our tourist accommodation is available to drive our local tourism economy. Over 500 landlords responded to our survey,” said Mr Bawden.


“These properties will be managed by local estate agents who have agreed to the Housing Accord and will now be displayed on a website that has been set up specifically to provide accommodation for the desalination workforce.”


Mr Bawden said the Housing Accord had been put together to ensure there was sufficient new housing to meet the needs of the desalination workforce over the next two years.


“Council, AquaSure and State Government Departments (DSE, DPCD and DHS) and local estate agents have all endorsed the Housing Accord,” said Mr Bawden.


“I am confident that every effort has been made to protect the availability of affordable housing for the local community.”