Hobart councillors reject a social housing development near the CBD

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The St Vincent De Paul Society is considering its options after the majority of Hobart councillors rejected a social housing development near the CBD.

Transcript

00:00 Hobart's Council has a policy to encourage five and six storey housing developments along

00:06 Argyle Street near the CBD, but a majority of councillors rejected a social housing project

00:13 for older women at risk of homelessness.

00:16 Those in favour of the development are frustrated.

00:19 This is really well suited to medium density housing and also such an important development

00:26 in terms of providing housing for vulnerable women.

00:31 The project would have included 38 studio apartments.

00:34 It attracted a range of objections, reflecting concerns about parking, vehicle access and

00:40 height.

00:41 And some councillors had planning concerns.

00:44 In my opinion they're very flimsy arguments to refuse such an important and well designed

00:49 development.

00:50 The decision has angered the Federal Government, which provided $13 million for the project.

00:56 Yes they need to be the right homes in the right places, but in this case they were the

01:00 right homes in the right places.

01:02 So I'm absolutely gobsmacked that they were not approved.

01:07 Older women are particularly at risk of housing stress and have few other options.

01:12 We know how much this housing is needed.

01:15 The evidence is very clear.

01:17 The way to solve homelessness is to get more affordable, safe, secure housing built.

01:23 St Vincent de Paul Housing is considering its options, which could include appealing

01:27 the Council's decision.

01:29 It could also reach an agreement with Council through mediation.

01:32 There are hopes that a solution can be found for the benefit of older women in need of

01:37 housing.

01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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