How did this project come about?
In December 2023, Councillors unanimously agreed on a proposal to allocate leases on two parcels of Council land in Maldon and Newstead for the purposes of affordable housing.
Under the plan, Council will lease land at 10 Steele Street, Maldon and 2A Canrobert Street, Newstead to Wintringham Housing to build and provide long-term, affordable rental housing for older shire residents on the Victorian Housing Register’s priority waitlist.
The 49-year leases will be charged at peppercorn rates (a very small charge to allow the build and delivery of long-term, affordable rental housing for older residents.) The leases will only be allocated if Wintringham obtain grant funding.
The decision by Councillors was made following an extensive and targeted community consultation period in which 85% of people supported the proposal.
Consultation activities included:
- An online poll to understand community sentiment and draw out key concerns
- Hard copy surveys were also supplied and received through Council's Affordable Housing Solutions Broker
- Drop-in community information sessions in Maldon and Newstead
- Community group and key stakeholder meetings to understand the views of service providers and directly impacted residents
- Responding to direct queries, following up with face-to-face meetings or phone calls
- Traditional channels, receiving submissions through the post, email and phone calls.
