Q. Why is Council undertaking a precinct plan for McMillan Street?
Facility audits and multi-agency discussions have identified that some buildings are showing signs of failure and that there is some duplication of current services and programs across facilities. The Department of Jobs Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) Investment Fast Track funding provides the opportunity to improve the integration and functionality of key health, education and community services and test a model of the inclusion of an affordable housing development for key workers within the precinct.
Q. Why consider including affordable housing for key workers in the Precinct?
Many businesses in Anglesea are unable to attract and retain workers due to a lack of affordable accommodation. Many employees have to make lengthy commutes to their jobs in Anglesea. Businesses who cannot find staff are having to reduce their hours of operation which impacts their income and makes it harder for residents to access a range of shops and services locally.
Key workers provide vital services to the community in services like health, education, community safety, etc. as well as services to residents and visitors that are important for the local economy in sectors such as retail, hospitality accommodation, etc.
Key workers typically earn low to moderate incomes and are frequently required to work outside of regular business hours or be available at short notice.
Q. What level of influence will community have?
There are community representatives at each level of the governance structure including the Project Control Group, Project Steering Group and Community Reference Group and community members will have the chance to provide input during each phase of the project. This includes initial community engagement activities that aim to understand infrastructure and service needs and preferences.
Q. Who will represent the community’s diverse range of interests and experiences?
Anglesea Community and Health Hub (ACHH) land owners and their lessees, auspice groups, etc., service/program providers, ACHH users and broader community.
Q. Why this site?
The precinct planning process will enable a transformative placemaking and infrastructure project that will improve the integration and functionality of key health, education and community services at this vital community hub; and test a model for the inclusion of affordable housing for key workers, supporting employment and the local and regional economy.
The Council and Barwon Health owned site is large – approx. 14,000m2. It is within the settlement boundaries, it is partially zoned residential and any proposed community, health and housing facilities would be developed to be consistent with the character of surrounding built form. Additionally, the site is close to shops and services, employment hubs, open green space and public transport.
Q. What will the community engagement inform?
Among other aspects of the precinct planning process, community engagement will provide input on:
- The needs and aspirations of all precinct service providers and users
- Management and delivery models
- Master planning of infrastructure and open space requirements, their integration and their connection to external enablers, for example transport.
Q. What will the process deliver and how long will it take?
We aim to have a community-endorsed precinct plan, funding strategy and implementation plan to submit to DJPR in June 2023. Public exhibition and Council reporting activities will likely occur in July and August of 2023.
Q. What is the difference between social and affordable housing?
• Affordable housing is a broad term which includes social housing.
• The term social housing includes public housing, which is state owned and managed housing, and community housing.
• Community housing is housing provided by a registered housing agency or association registered under the Housing Act 1983, or a community housing provider.
• Both social and affordable housing build in, to differing extents, elements of eligibility and subsidy usually set through government policy.
Q. Who would be eligible to live in the affordable housing?
Local housing need will inform the design of the affordable housing development, as well as key aspects of its management, such as eligibility and level of subsidy.
A starting point for exploration of eligibility and subsidy would be Homes Victoria’s Affordable Housing Rental Scheme [link: Affordable Housing Rental Scheme | Homes Victoria] In regional Victoria, eligibility for an Affordable Housing Rental Scheme (AHRS) property includes being a worker in an essential government funded service’. People working as nurses, police, teachers and care workers and earning under the specified income threshold would be eligible for AHRS housing.
However, it is worth noting that 35% (approx. 3,300) of jobs in the Surf Coast Shire are based in tourism. Hospitality, accommodation and retail businesses are among those industries experiencing the most severe workforce shortages.