The City of Hobart’s decision to block a much-needed social housing development has left the Federal Minister for Housing “appalled”.
Councillors rejected a proposal to transform a North Hobart property into a five-storey building, complete with 38 new studio apartments for women over 55 experiencing homelessness, at a meeting on Wednesday night.
The $16.7 million development was a joint effort between St Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Tasmania and Amelie Housing.
Housing Minister and Tasmanian MP Julie Collins said she was “disappointed” that councillors Marti Zucco, John Kelly, Louise Elliot, Louise Bloomfield and Ben Lohberger had voted against the development.
“The Federal Government was putting in $13 million of taxpayers’ money towards this project, given how critical we know it is here in Tasmania to get more homes out of the ground,” she said.
“I think we need to have a good conversation in Tasmania and in our communities about the need to get more homes out of the ground for Tasmanians that need them.”
“We don’t have enough homes … We all need to be working together so that we can get more homes.”
Councillors who shut down the project cited concerns raised by neighbours surrounding the height of the building and parking, despite council officers recommending the development be approved.
The future of funding for the build now remains in doubt, with conditions attached to the Housing Affordability Future Fund imposing strict timing rules.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, who supported the project alongside Zelinda Sherlock, Bill Harvey and Councillor Gemma Kitsos, on Wednesday said the council should prepare for similar developments in the area in the future.
“This is such an important development for housing and homelessness, we have a housing crisis,” she said.
“This sends exactly the wrong message to developers, to housing funders, to the social sector, to people who are experiencing homelessness that we are basically going to say no to this because of a few quite limited concerns.”
“In this location, where we’re looking to develop more growth in Hobart, four, five, six storeys is exactly the kind of projects we will be seeing in this part of Hobart in the coming years.”
