Belmont social housing project completed

A SOCIAL housing development in Belmont has been knocked down and rebuilt to be bigger and better.

The 29-apartment project was constructed under the Victorian government’s $1.25 billion Big Housing Build.

Designed by Kennedy Nolan Architects, the one and two-bedroom homes are modern and energy efficient, meaning renters will keep warm in winter and cool in summer.

The new housing is a partnership between Homes Victoria and Housing Choices Australia and replaces a collection of one-bedroom units at the site.

It will house people on the Victorian Housing Register, including those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, aged and disability pensioners, and women and children escaping family violence.

The homes are close to the Barwon River walking track, public transport, local schools, and shops, giving renters access to the services they need.

Housing Choices Australia chief financial officer Brian Motz said this project was the first to use new planning laws that allowed the development’s application to go straight to the planning minister and “basically fast-track” the planning process, which includes a review process from the Victorian Government Architect.

Victorian Housing Minister Harriet Shing and Geelong MP Christine Couzens visited the social housing development on Friday last week to inspect the completed building before its first tenants, some of whom originally lived in the previous social housing on the site, move in over the next few weeks.

Speaking during Friday’s visit, Ms Shing thanked the many partners who helped bring the development to life.

“We wouldn’t be able to deliver the big housing build without these partnerships, and it comes down to everything from design through to contracting and delivery – 90 jobs created on this site alone – to add to the existing investments we’re making,” she said.

She said constructing social housing was ultimately about people.

“When we think about this development, and these two buildings, they provide a measure of pride for people for whom pride has all too often been so elusive, and who’ve lived with shame or with resignation – even worse – that their lives won’t change and they won’t have access to homes such as this.”

In the City of Greater Geelong, the Victorian government says it has invested more than $200 million through the Big Housing Build and other social housing programs to build 563 new homes, 341 of which have already been completed.

“With this new development we’re building a stronger, more inclusive community. Having a home is a basic need to having a stable life,” Ms Couzens said.