Mount Alexander Shire Council’s community survey regarding the proposed affordable housing development at 65-67 Templeton Street closed last Sunday February 8.
The Mail met with the shire’s Housing Solutions Broker Clare Richards and Housing Project Officer Lenka Thompson on Monday to discuss feedback from the latest survey and next steps.
In 2022, council asked the community about creating affordable apartments at 65-67 Templeton Street on the Bendigo TAFE site, with the proposed new development set to continue to offer a space to the education provider.
With more than 80 per cent community support at the time, council committed to delivering around 20 affordable homes on the site.
Since then, TAFE has relocated within Castlemaine and has opted not to renew its lease in Templeton Street, fully opening up the land for development. A new funding opportunity has also emerged and therefore council have restarted conversations with nearby residents.
Ms Richards said the latest survey once again indicated 80 per cent support for the project.
“Our first step is to listen carefully to residents’ concerns and priorities, which will directly inform the design. The planning process has not yet begun – we’re deliberately gathering and incorporating community feedback before lodging any application,” she said.
The Federal Government’s latest Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) round for affordable rental housing projects opened at the end of January. Along with registered housing agency partners, Haven Home Safe (ongoing manager) and Unison Housing (developer), council is submitting a funding bid to the HAFF for 65-67 Templeton Street.
In four week’s time council and its partners will learn if their bid is successful and, if so, then the planning and design work will begin in earnest.
As reported in last week’s Mail with TAFE choosing not to continue its lease, some residents have expressed concerns that the project had potentially grown in scale and will house more residents than originally intended.
A petition has been started which raises concerns about the safety and wellbeing of elderly residents living in the area; the destruction of heritage; environmental and structural risks; sewerage concerns with the addition of 21 new residents; the impact on local character; and parking and congestion issues.
Ms Richards and Ms Thompson wanted to reassure the community that despite TAFE’s decision not to renew its lease, the project has not grown in size and will not incorporate a neighbouring block also owned by council.
“The development remains at 20 apartments and aims to provide a mix of social and affordable housing featuring one, two and perhaps even one three bedroom apartment to cater for a mix of individuals and families.
“These homes will be for local people identified as in ‘precarious’ housing situation, they may be camping, living in cars, couch surfing, or in short term leases or accommodation and need a permanent home,” she said.
The pair said it is well established that there is an urgent need for more affordable housing in our shire – up to 1000 extra homes.
“We aim to eventually consider a similar project on the adjacent block at 30A Templeton Street (above the car park next to Castlemaine Community House). But for now this funding application focuses solely on this particular site.
Ms Richards said if successful early design work will focus on respecting the area’s heritage character, minimising earthworks, and using quality modular construction to reduce build time and disruption. Water and sewer requirements will be addressed at the planning stage with Coliban Water.
“The design will aim also aim to minimise overshadowing and overlooking into neighbouring properties,” she said.
Ms Thompson said they have been working hard to keep the surrounding community members informed about the project via online and hard-copy surveys, in-person visits, neighbourhood door-knocking and face-to-face meetings.
“By listening closely and designing thoughtfully, we are confident we can deliver a building that fits the neighbourhood and provides much needed secure, affordable rental homes for our community,” she said.