Geelong council pressed to prioritise homes over debt

LOCAL housing advocates are calling on the City of Greater Geelong to abandon a proposal to sell off two parcels of land previously earmarked for social housing.

In June, the City of Greater Geelong called for community feedback on the sale of 2-14 Rollins Road in Bell Post Hill and 5A Dean Street in Belmont — a move it said would help the council drive down its debt over the next four years.

But some have questioned how the proposeal aligns with the city’s own social housing plan, which targets a 6,750-dwelling boost by 2031, and are urging the council to instead retain the land.

The commitment to increase access to social and affordable housing in the region is also reiterated in the council’s four-year Community Health and Wellbeing Strategy, newly adopted in July.

Since the council first proposed the sites be dedicated for social housing in 2022, Real Deal Geelong Alliance community organiser Sally Fisher said, the housing crisis has “deteriorated into a housing catastrophe”.

“The need for social housing has only increased…with over 5,500 Geelong households now in need of social housing.

“To sell these blocks of land off for private housing or other purposes deprives many residents of an opportunity to have a safe, affordable home and to participate in employment, education and the wider community as part of a dignified life.”

Fisher was one of several community members to make a submission to the City of Greater Geelong through the consultation process, and on Wednesday presented to a submission review panel at City Hall on the issue.

Several other Real Deal Geelong Alliance members also shared their personal stories with the panel, highlighting the importance of social housing and the impact the lack of it has on them.

Dr Fisher said the alliance has formally requested the city undertake a gender impact assessment prior to making its decision on the sale of both sites as it has the potential “to negatively impact upon older women and other vulnerable groups in the community”.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the city was carefully reviewing the submissions it had received on the proposed land sales.

He said the city was already moving forward with social housing at 116-120 Purnell Road in Corio – a project he noted the council is investing “significant resources” into – and confirmed the city will continue to consider city-owned land identified as surplus for social housing.