$177 MILLION BOOST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN VICTORIA

From the Minister for Housing

Friday, 12 March 2010

The Brumby Labor Government is expanding its record commitment to providing affordable housing for vulnerable Victorians, with another 4,500 new subsidised private rental homes to be made available.

Housing Minister Richard Wynne made the announcement today with Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson at the launch of the Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy in Kensington.

The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to address issues faced by home buyers, private renters, people living in social housing and homeless people,” Mr Wynne said.

“As part of this landmark strategy, the Brumby Labor Government will deliver a $177 million incentive package to the private sector to build 4,500 new private rental homes in Victoria for low and moderate income families as part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

“This extra investment is on top of the 3,000 NRAS homes already committed by the Brumby Labor Government’s partnership with the Rudd Labor Government.

“The new package will help us deliver on our commitment to create more diverse and affordable housing options, a greater supply of housing, better designed homes, tighter security for renters and reduce the incidence of homelessness.”

Speaking at the site of Victoria’s showcase in the integration of public and private housing, at the Kensington redevelopment site, Mr Wynne said the Brumby Labor Government would work with the construction industry, developers, investors, community organisations, housing agencies and other levels of government to address the state’s future housing needs.

“Meeting the demands of strong population growth, an ageing population, climate change and other economic, social and environmental changes poses significant challenges for Victoria’s housing sector,” Mr Wynne said.

Mr Robinson said improving the regulatory framework for private rental housing was also part of the Strategy.

“Our Government is committed to ensuring the regulation of rental accommodation, especially student accommodation, caravan and residential parks and rooming houses,” he said,

“We are doing this because we want all Victorians have access to safe, secure and affordable housing that meets their needs.”

Planning Minister Justin Madden said the State's planning system, together with Melbourne @ 5 million and the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan, is already achieving the goals outlined in the Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy.

“We are already seeing more development in areas close to high quality transport, education and health services, employment opportunities and community and recreational facilities,” he said.

”Victoria’s planning system has undergone considerable reforms over recent years making it more streamlined to help deliver the priorities in the Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy.

“We are committed to finding more ways to utilise land in existing urban areas and accommodate more sustainable building designs for future generations.”


ITG: This funding should have been made available back in 2007 when the Desal Plants
construction was announced.

It's no good providing funding to build homes that are two years away !

These homes are needed now and were desperately needed before the desal workers came
into the basscoast. 

We have not heard from anyone forced from their home, being offered any housing grants ?

There has been 19 grants funded to the Basscoast , yet there is no mention of it on their website?

So how are we supposed to find this information out if we are not being told?

For those of us already being forced out, its too little too late ! 

Thanks for nothing Mr Brumby !

Accord Discord

PETITION: Stop desalination plants in victoria

The government is building a desalination plant in Victoria.

This petition is to stop all further plans of desalination plants should be dismissed.

It will do more harm than good.

We should invest the 3.1 billion dollars in something more energy efficient such as water tanks. This is a much better option to conserve our planet.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-desalination-plant-plan-in-victoria/sign.html

Please sign it and pass it on to all your friends !

Council confident in Housing Accord

Basscoast Council Website
26 February 2010

Bass Coast Shire Council is confident the Victorian Desalination Project Housing Accord will provide enough housing from vacant holiday houses to meet the needs of the project.

Council CEO, Allan Bawden, said Council had been monitoring housing affordability since 2004.

“We believed housing affordability was a key issue which is why we raised it in our EES submission,” explained Mr Bawden. "We highlighted that a housing strategy was needed to try and stop the housing situation worsening."

“The Minister for Planning recognised our concerns, but it became clear that no one else was going to develop a housing strategy, so that’s when Council stepped in."

“AquaSure estimate that 500 houses are needed to house the workforce and we have 600 potential landlords who are interested in making their properties available. To date the desalination accommodation website has over 300 properties listed,” continued Mr Bawden.

The Accord requires the participating local real estate agents to understand and commit to the housing strategy, which is to offer desalination workers accommodation from the new pool of rental properties – not existing rentals.

“If you believe an Accord partner is in breach of the Housing Accord, contact us immediately so we can investigate the matter and deal with it quickly,” continued Mr Bawden.

“Recent media allegations that agents and landlords have been attempting to convert private rental properties to desalination accommodation have prompted Council and State Government to work with AquaSure and tighten up the scrutiny of properties listed on the website."

“Details of this are being finalised but greater checking will occur to ensure that every property listed on the Desalination website meets the objects of the Housing Strategy.”

The $50 listing fee charged to landlords is still attracting the attention of Housing Accord critics.

“In setting up the Accord, local estate agents insisted that an independent authority set up the accommodation website. We agreed to do this on the understanding that ratepayers would not be expected to subsidise the desalination accommodation costs."

“Agents recommended the $50 one off listing fee, which was set to cover the costs of maintaining the website, listing participating properties and updating information as required."

“The Accord has also generated many hundreds of enquiries from agents, prospective landlords and the general public which this fee assists in meeting the expense for."

“Suggestions that Council is profiting from this service are outrageous."

“We would never ask or expect ratepayers to subside the commercial arrangement between landlords, estate agents and tenants working for the desalination project – which is why a fee is charged,” said Mr Bawden.

BOYCOTT agents breaching VDP Housing Accord

BOYCOTT agents breaching VDP Housing Accord

If you are a tenant in a property being managed by any of these agents and your rights
have been breached with unreasonable rent rises or notices to vacate, then please
contact the Tenants Union of Vic or Consumer affairs Vic and report them.

If you have a property being managed by any agent listed on the VDP Housing Accord
and these agents have increased rents by more than the 10% allowed then please report
them to the Basscoast Council and move your business elsewhere.

These breaches will be dealt with very seriously.

National Rental Affordability Scheme - Government Funded Program

State Governments Response to Basscoast Housing Crisis.

If you are being forced from your home due to the desal plants construction then you
may be eligible for the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

There has been 19 packages funded to the Basscoast Council.

This scheme allows you to pay 20% less rent, than the market rates, this will help some
of us but you need to get in early as there is only 19 available.

Contact the Basscoast Council and ask to be included.

Basscoast council Ph: 1300 226278

Commonwealth Rent Assistance

Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) is a financial supplement paid by
the Federal Government to people who receive Commonwealth income
support and family tax benefit.

It is intended to help recipients meet the high costs of renting
in the private sector. The majority of low income Victorians are
accommodated inthe private rental market and rely on CRA to help
them meet the cost of their rent.

For more information contact Toby Archer at the Tenants Union of
Victoria on ☎ 9411 1444.

Or

Telephone advice

☎ 9416 2577

The Tenants Union is collecting information about the activities of
agents and raising these issues with Consumer Affairs to encourage
them to investigate and prosecute rogue agents.

But they need your help!


Case studies based on the real experiences of people help them
develop policy proposals and assist them explain to Government
the negative impact of their policies.

They will respect your personal details and contact you directly if
your story contains something that we want to develop into a
case study.

"See it as your personal sacrifice towards the Accord !"

Local Agent " Refutes Tenants being forced out ! "

"I wonder what it feels like to be thrown to the wolves !"

I'm sure this agent knows how it feels, he is the only one, who
seems to think that the desal plants construction has nothing
to do with the housing crisis being expeianced in Inverloch
at present.

Send in your opinions on this story.

Registered Housing Accord Real Estate Agents

These agents are part of the Victorian Desalination Project (VDP) Housing Accord.

It is a breach of the VDP Housing Accord to vacate full-time Tenants for Desal workers !
If any of these Agents are your Landlords and you feel you have been forced out due to the
desals construction, then call the Basscoast Council and the Victorian Tenants Union for Advice.

Cowes

Financial Services – Phillip Island
113 Thompson Avenue
COWES VIC 3922
(03) 5952 1357 
http://www.rescomphillipisland.com.au/
karenne@rescomphillipisland.com.au

Stockdale & Leggo
52 Thompson Avenue
COWES VIC 3922
(03) 5952 6633
http://www.phillipislandre.com.au/ 
 helen@stockdaleleggo.com.au

Alex Scott & Staff Real Estate
1/154 Thompson Avenue
COWES VIC 3922
(03) 5952 2633 
http://www.alexscott.com.au/
alexscott@waterfront.net.au

Ray White Real Estate
146 Thompson Avenue
COWES VIC 3922
(03) 5952 2799
http://www.raywhite.com/
leah.formosa@raywhite.com

Judith Wright
54 Thompson Avenue
COWES VIC 3922
(03) 5952 5100 
http://www.judithwright.com.au/
jwright@judithwright.com.au


Grantville

Stockdale & Leggo Shop 1
1503 Bass Highway
GRANTVILLE
(03) 5678 8700
http://www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/
slwon@bigpond.net..au

Alex Scott & Co Real Estate
1505 Bass Highway
GRANTVILLE VIC 3984
(03) 5678 8433
 http://www.alexscott.com.au/
bass_valley@dcsi.net.au


San Remo

San Remo Realty –Professionals
9/95 Marine Parade
SAN REMO VIC 3925
(03) 5678 5141 
http://www.sanremorealty.com.au/
felicity@sanremorealty.com.au


VDP Estate Agents Inverloch

PBE Rescom Pty Ltd
1/7 A’Beckett Street
INVERLOCH VIC 3996
(03) 5674 1602
 info@inverloch.rescom.com.au
www.rescom.com.au/inverloch

Southcoast Pty Ltd
1B A’Beckett Street
INVERLOCH VIC 3996
(03) 5674 2255 
http://www.southcoastfn.com.au/ 
southcoast@scre.com.au

Alex Scott
3A A’Beckett Street
INVERLOCH VIC 3996
(03) 5674 1111 
alexscott-invy@dcsi.net.au
http://inverloch.alexscott.com.au/

Stockdale & Leggo
2A A'Beckett Street,
INVERLOCH VIC 3996
(03) 5674 3977 
http://www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/
slwon@bigpond.net..au

L J Hooker
6 William Street
INVERLOCH VIC 3996
(03) 5674 2888 
http://www.ljhooker.com/

Harcourts Real Estate 11 A’Beckett St
INVERLOCH VIC 3996
(03) 5671 1212  
srolfe.inverloch@ljh.com.au
lewis.stone@harcourts.com.au


Wonthaggi

Rescom
1 Murray Street
WONTHAGGI VIC 3995
(03) 5672 2666
michael@wonthaggi.rescom.com.au

Alex Scott & Staff
99 Graham Street
WONTHAGGI VIC 3995
(03) 5672 1911 
http://www.alexscott.com.au/
wonthaggi@alexscott.com.au

PBE Real Estate
38 – 40 McBride Avenue
WONTHAGGI VIC 3995
(03) 5672 1262 
http://www.pberealestate.com.au/
rentals@pberealestate.com.au

Stockdale & Leggo
c/o Murray & Bilson Street
WONTHAGGI VIC 3995
(03) 5672 1477 
http://www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/
slwon@bigpond.net..au


Cape Paterson

Stockdale & Leggo
Shop 3,
2-6 Market Place,
Cape Paterson, VIC, 3995
(03) 5674 8208 
http://www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/
slwon@bigpond.net..au

PBE Cape Paterson
c/o 38 – 40 McBride Avenue
CAPE PATERSON VIC 3995
(03) 5674 8044 
wonthaggi@pberealestate.com.au
http://www.pberealestate.com.au/

Southcoast First National
2/23 Murray Street
WONTHAGGI VIC 3995
(03) 5672 3255 
southcoastfn@bigpond.com.au
http://www.southcoastfn.com.au/

Tenants are being bullied by Real estate Agents.

Some of the tenants we have spoken to have reported being bullied by Real Estate Agents.

Some have reported....

1. Agents just turnng up on doorsteps announcing that the owners have decided to sell.
2. Agents not properly notifying tenants of prospective buyers wanting access.
3. Inappropriate rental increases from 45-250 dollars per week.
4. Repairs being made now, after many requests for them to be done and then rent rises to such an extreme that the current tenant cannot afford to stay in the property.
5. Some tenants have also reported not being given any reasons at all for a vacate notice
6. Desal properties being offered for or as permanent rentals to local residents at exuberant prices.

We are hoping to take this issue up with the Victorian Tenants Union in the next week and we will update you as soon as we can get a response.

UPDATE: Inverloch property owners have chosen not to fall into the Desal Rental Trap.

We applaude those owners that have chosen to stand by their local
tenants and we hope that further owners will do the same.

We know that some management agents have attempted to encourage
owners to increase rent values or to sell while the desal boom is here
and we know how difficult this decision has been for many owners.

We have some good news to report, we were told today that some
owners have decided not to increase their residential rents because
they want to hold onto their current permanent tenants and not fall
into a trap of tenants not being available in 15 months when the
desal plant workers move on.

We have been told directly from Aquasure that they have contacted
many of the agents signed up to the Housing Accord and for them 
to be aware of:

1. Listing desal rental properties on the desal site only
2. Renting properties to their workers that have been made vacant
purposely for the desal project.
3. Increasing rents to more than 500 per week.

Aquasure will deregister these agents not abiding by the Accord.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Aquasure's
Wonthaggi Office for their quick response and attempts to resolve
a very complexed problem.

We would like to inform any owner thinking about evicting current
tenants from their properties that:

You may not rent your property to any desal worker for 6 months
after vacating a fulltime tenant as a breach of this rule, will involve
a Tenants union and/or consumer affairs investigation.

After meetings with the Basscoast Council, it has still not come
forward with any resolutions to this Housing crisis and we were not
that surprised after meeting with the " Its not our problem Mayor "

It seems that they believe that their hands are clean of this situation
even though, they knew this housing crisis existed in 2005 and that
they have not planned for this issue after 5 years to have readied
themselves.

It also was the Basscoast Council that would not allow an
accomodation camp to be erected beside the desal plant which
would have stopped this housing crisis in the first place but
apparently, they had concerns about the views others would have
when visiting the basscoast which is a total cop out especially
when they are supposed to have built 1800 low income houses
and havent. 

I wonder how they are going to view this situation when they
have families living on their streets or in their cars like Lynne-Maree
and her 6 kids will be in 2 months!

As for the local agents who have breached the housing accord and
vacated full-time tenants so they can sell the property and then
re-offer it for desal rentals or those that have just increased rents
by illegal amounts, you will be caught and eventually prosecuted
for this behaviour by consumer affairs victoria.

Speedy switch on Rent costs

This house for $685.00 a week?

No winners from outrages rents

We dont vet house listings says Shire CEO

Tenants evacuated for Desal staff

Council tightens its desal housing accord

Minister recognises Bass Housing Crisis

Bass Shire attacks Ken Smith MP