Hannah Hammoud
Brimbank council has adopted its final draft Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy designed to meet the housing needs of the municipality in the next 20 years.
The strategy sets a vision for how council will plan for at least an additional 34,000 residents and 14,000 dwellings by 2041.
Council consulted with the community on the draft strategy and received 33 submissions from different parts of the community including residents, residents’ groups, local developers, the Melbourne Airport, and government authorities.
Council said the top issues identified from the submissions were protecting heritage and character, and also support for higher density developments.
Other issues raised were about sustainability, more action on tree coverage, and climate change. The need for more action on housing affordability and diversity were also raised.
Council said the strategy provides a clear direction on locations where growth should occur, with an emphasis on the Sunshine-Albion and Sydenham-Watergardens precincts.
The strategy identified “significant challenges” that need to be addressed in Brimbank, including the need for more housing that is” diverse, affordable and well-located.”
“Brimbank’s community is one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged in metropolitan Melbourne and has the highest instance of people experiencing homelessness in Greater Melbourne’s west,” the strategy reads.
“Like other major cities around Australia, housing in Brimbank is becoming increasingly unaffordable, and this threatens the security and well-being of current and future residents.”
The strategy identifies that the establishment of more dwellings is reliant on infill development in residential areas within existing dwelling stock. Currently, 80 per cent of Brimbank’s housing supply is comprised of separate houses which council said will not meet the housing needs of an increasingly diverse and ageing population.
Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic said the strategy includes a plan that supports growth and enhances liveability in Brimbank.
“The strategy recognises current issues that includes the urgent need for affordable housing, and tackling climate change through climate resilient new housing developments,” Cr Rasic said.
“It also addresses the need to protect the neighbourhood character and heritage that makes this a great place to live.”
