- Published:
- Monday 31 July 2023
The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring more Victorians have a roof over their head, boosting housing supply and creating thousands of jobs through its record investment in social and affordable housing.
Minister for Housing Colin Brooks today visited the Bills Street housing development in Hawthorn that is being delivered as part of the Labor Government’s landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.
The almost $100 million development is on track to welcome hundreds of new residents by the end of the year and is replacing 52 old, no longer fit for purpose dwellings with 103 new state-of-the-art social housing homes – boosting social housing on the site by 98 per cent.
In addition, there will be 103 new affordable homes that will provide new options for Victorians that may be struggling to enter or stay in the private rental market.
These new one, two and three-bedroom homes are modern and energy efficient, meaning renters will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, while also saving on power bills.
The Bills Street site is centrally located with easy access to community facilities and is supporting more than 800 jobs during construction. The development will also include safe and publicly accessible open and green spaces and improved transport links.
Since the Big Housing Build began in November 2020, more than 7,600 homes have been completed or are underway, and more than 2,800 households have either moved or are getting ready to move into brand new homes.
The Government is on track to deliver more than 12,000 new homes and create more than 40,000 jobs during construction as part of the Big Housing Build program.
In addition to the Bills Street development there are large projects underway or in planning in Flemington (350 homes), Brighton (almost 300 homes), Prahran (400 homes), Ballarat (180 homes) and Bendigo (120 homes).
The Government has also created a new $1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1,300 homes across regional Victoria. The new homes will include a mix of social and affordable housing and the Government will work with councils, regional partnerships and local communities to determine the locations and needs for each region.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing Colin Brooks
“Every Victorian deserves a place to call home and we know there’s no more important issue in the state than housing. We’re doing what we can to create more housing stock of all types and increase supply.”
“We’re building thousands of homes across Victoria through our $5.3 billion Big Housing Build – the largest single investment in social and affordable housing by any state or territory government.”
“While the Liberals and Greens play politics with housing, we’re delivering 12,000 new social and affordable dwellings so more Victorians can have a place to call home.”