Two locations in Castlemaine’s Templeton Street are being explored as possible sites to develop medium density affordable rental homes amid the shire’s deepening housing affordability crisis.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is keen to explore the possibility of securing state or federal funding to develop medium density affordable rental homes at the potential sites – one above the Bendigo TAFE building, and the other above the car park alongside Castlemaine Community House.
“We are pushing the matter as fast as we can,” Mount Alexander mayor Cr Bill Maltby says.
Cr Maltby says the two sites being considered are both “air space” above land which is already council-owned, a fact which means the process of ticking all the necessary boxes and developing the two locations for affordable rental housing can be a less protracted process.
“The government has the cash to give out and all the council is doing is saying ‘you can use our space’,” the mayor says.
A public engagement exercise conducted last year identified housing affordability as among the most important issues in Castlemaine and the wider Mount Alexander Shire with older single women among the groups known to be particularly struggling to secure an affordable place to call home.
It’s prompted the council to appoint its first ever housing officer as it now strives to work with the community to particularly improve access to affordable long-term rental homes.
Locals who think they may have something valuable to contribute are now being encouraged to offer their thoughts on the subject via the council’s ‘Shape Mount Alexander’ community engagement platform.
Councillor Christine Henderson says that if the two Templeton Street sites under consideration can be developed for affordable rental housing, the process will likely take at least five years at best.
“This is in the centre of town and it’s probably our best hope,” Cr Henderson says.
“Affordable housing has traditionally meant a third of your income.”
“This is an issue that needs to be fixed and the council is taking the initiative,” Cr Maltby says.
“We are aware that some of this is moving very quickly, but if there is the possibility of significant funding from state and federal governments, we have an obligation to explore them.”