[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Affordable housing project welcome, but coherent housing strategy still missing

[Christopher Holley]

Media release from Sylvia Hale MLC, NSW Greens MP and Housing
Spokesperson

Affordable housing project welcome, but coherent housing strategy still
missing 

Greens MP and Housing spokesperson Sylvia Hale today hailed the
Ultimo/Glebe affordable housing project as a major step forward, but
warned that the government needed to adopt a coherent affordable housing
and homelessness strategy for the state.
 
“The Greens have been campaigning for years for projects like this so
I congratulate the Government and Sydney City Council on this
initiative.  Finally, we will see a major affordable housing project in
an area where it is much-needed,” she said.
 
"This is exactly the type of affordable housing the Greens have been
saying that we need in high housing cost areas - mixed income housing,
workers being housed near where they work, close to public transport, a
mixture of those on statutory incomes and those on wages. Rents will
contribute to maintenance and future expansion.

The government’s record to date has been disappointing. We need a
coherent, as opposed to ad hoc, approach to affordable housing from this
Government. 

“The Greens are campaigning for at least 10% affordable housing in
all new multi-unit developments across the state and have given notice
of a private members Bill to give councils the power to set affordable
housing requirements in new developments.

“The Iemma government must stop its ad-hockery in public policy.
We’ve seen it in transport, planning, and in housing as well.

“There is no affordable housing strategy for NSW.

“There is no homelessness strategy for NSW.

“While this project is good, there’s is no coherent approach to
housing from the government. 

“The Iemma Government needs to work on this, as new Federal money for
housing is becoming available. I don’t want to see NSW missing out on
affordable housing opportunities because this government is too slow or
incompetent to come up with an integrated strategy.

In regards to the social housing tenants affected by the Glebe/Ultimo
project, Ms Hale said  “The Greens will be vigilant in ensuring that
tenants who will be temporarily displaced are rehoused in the new
complex or in a place of their choice, and there is no net loss of
social housing as a result of the redevelopment of Housing NSW land”.

“We are equally committed to  ecologically sustainable design
features incorporated in the buildings", said Ms Hale.

Chris Holley on 02 9230 3030 or 0437 779 546