[Greens-Media] Where is the public housing? [Scanned]

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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11 Aug 08


Where is the public housing?

Deb Foskey, ACT Greens MLA, today raised concerns that public housing is
missing out in the redevelopment of yet another decommissioned public
housing site.

"Burnie Court in Lyons provided homes to 264 public housing tenants
before it was demolished in 2001, contributing to the loss of more than
1000 public housing units in condemned multi-residential developments,"
said Dr Foskey.

"Seven years later, it is to be redeveloped with around 200 units, none
of which will be public housing."

"I acknowledge the 24 public housing for older tenants nearby on
Freycinet St, and I am also glad to see that 12 or so of the new
dwellings will be affordable housing (75% of market rents) through CHC
Affordable Housing."

"Nonetheless I am concerned that every time we lose a multi-residential
housing complex, any replacement dwellings are located away from
amenities. Public housing tenants have the least resources and need to
be able to access services close to hand."

"Recently we saw that Fraser Court is to become upmarket housing and
this seems to be the direction being taken on the Lyons Estate - the
lesson seems to be that the land around town centres is too valuable for
public housing."

"The Greens don't want to recreate the mistakes of the past, by putting
a large number of disadvantaged people together on one site."

"What we need instead is inclusionary zoning, a mandated level of
affordable and social housing, including community housing and public
housing."

"This is how cities in the US, Canada and Ireland have tackled their
need for affordable housing, but the Government and Opposition rejected
the idea when I proposed it in 2005." 

"This ensures a good social mix, which has always been a basic principle
in Canberra's planning."

"Its not too late to make the Lyons Estate part of the solution to our
affordable housing problem," said Deb Foskey.

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MEDIA CONTACT Roland Manderson 62050551 or 0412241379 
  
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