Call for Affordable Housing at Macquarie Point

Shelter Tas, the Peak body for Housing and Homelessness services in Tasmania, is calling on the Hobart City Council and the State Government to include affordable housing in the Macquarie Point development.

“Both State and local governments have publicly stated their commitments for affordable housing” said Shelter Tas Executive Officer Pattie Chugg. “The Tasmanian Liberal Government has identified reducing homelessness and housing stress as a top priority in the Tasmanian Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025 released last month. “Council’s submission to the Masterplan for Macquarie Point requested that ‘consideration be given to the provision of affordable and social housing being accommodated on the site.’”

Hobart City Planning Committee meets today. “With the planning amendments for the Macquarie Point development on the agenda for today’s meeting, now is the perfect opportunity for governments to act together to support affordable housing,” Ms Chugg said.

“The State Government, the Council and the community all know that affordable housing is in chronic short supply in Tasmania, with the public housing wait list at almost 3,000. Housing stress affects a quarter of the State’s low income households. That is 14,000 households in housing stress . A further shortfall of 4700 properties when the NDIS is fully rolled out is anticipated. Low wage workers and apprentices need affordable housing, and the Macquarie Point site is an excellent location for affordable homes for key workers and single person accommodation for older Tasmanians,” Ms Chugg said.

“Shelter Tas calls on the State Government and the Council to maximise public benefit from this exceptional development in our State Capital by dedicating at least 10%of the residential area to affordable housing. If 500 residential units are built, that would mean 50 affordable homes for low income Tasmanians.”
Pattie Chugg Executive Officer, Shelter Tasmania