The conversation
All Melburnians deserve access to safe and affordable housing. We believe affordable housing is a fundamental human right and an essential infrastructure that leads to better emotional, social, and economic outcomes for all community members. However, independent analysis shows that the City of Melbourne currently has a shortfall of at least 6,000 affordable rental homes, which is forecast to quadruple to more than 23,000 by 2036 if no action is taken – driving thousands more Melburnians into housing stress.
In response to this, the City of Melbourne’s Affordable Housing Strategy commits to leasing one Council-owned site for an affordable housing project in the next five years. A recent survey of City of Melbourne residents found 76 per cent supported the use of Council land for affordable housing.
Council has identified the land at 44-60 Curzon Street in North Melbourne as a potentially suitable site for an affordable housing pilot project, due to its size, location and proximity to services and amenities.
The goal of this community engagement process was to understand the role the site plays in the existing neighbourhood and the harness insights about using the site for affordable housing. The process sought to understand the potential benefits and impacts on the local community and economy by changing the use of the site.
The intent of the engagement process was to inform and consult with the local community.
Through the community engagement, we sought to:
- Build awareness of the community and Council’s vision to support affordable housing development in the City of Melbourne and the benefits to the community.
- Understand how shoppers, visitors, residents, workers and traders move around the local area and the role of the site in the neighbourhood.
- Understand community sentiment about whether people would be supportive of using this site for affordable housing.
Gathering insights
Earlier to the middle of 2022, Council sought community feedback on the proposal to use the land for an affordable housing project. Residents, traders, shoppers, visitors and those who use the car park were invited to have their say through a variety of activities, including:
- targeted emails to key community group leaders
- door knocking and conversations with local
businesses
- on-site posters
- a letterbox drop to all residents and businesses within 500m of the site
- a project page and survey on Participate Melbourne
- local media and social media updates
- invitations to meet for small group or one-on-one discussions
- phone conversations
- six drop-in sessions in Errol Street, outside the North Melbourne Library.
Who we reached
308
people completed the surveys
4
written submissions received
2129
website visitors
86
people had conversations at the drop-in sessions
What we heard
- A majority of respondents (76 per cent) supported affordable housing and want to see more of it integrated throughout the City of Melbourne.
- Additionally, 63 per cent of respondents support the development of affordable housing in West and/or North Melbourne.
- Respondents agreed that affordable housing should be close to public transport and amenities such as shops, supermarkets, and services. Being close to employment, study and childcare was also viewed as essential for an affordable housing development. Opinions on suitable locations varied.
- Respondents identified a range of benefits arising from an affordable housing development in Curzon Street, including addressing the broader need for affordable housing, and providing housing diversity to the area.
- Some respondents reported concerns about the availability of parking in the Curzon Street area and about the negative social impacts that an affordable housing development could have on the area.
- Respondents’ main parking concerns were for residents and their visitors, and some respondents were concerned about the impact on businesses along Errol Street.
- The strongest support for an affordable housing project in Curzon Street was from those who live outside the area (59 per cent) and those who shop or attend services on or near Errol Street (47 per cent). The greatest opposition to the uses of an affordable housing project came from those who currently park their car in the car park (85 per cent).
Key findings
- Over half of respondents (53 per cent) reported that they travel around the area on foot, a third drive (33 per cent), 7 per cent use public transport and 4 per cent stated they cycle.
- Just over half of respondents (51 per cent) stated they never use the Curzon Street car park.
- Most of those who use the Curzon Street car park (33 per cent) do so for less than 2 hours at a time and tend to use it more in the afternoons than at other times of day (23 per cent).
- The most common reason respondents use the Curzon Street car park is to go shopping or visit a business on or near Errol Street (36 per cent).
- If the Curzon Street car park is unavailable to use, respondents will most often park in a nearby street (50 per cent) or drive around until a space becomes available for them (33 per cent).
- A majority of respondents (76 per cent) support affordable housing projects within the city.
- More than half of respondents (63 per cent) support an affordable housing project being located in West and/or North Melbourne neighbourhoods.
- A majority of respondents (76 per cent) support affordable housing projects within the city.
- More than half of respondents (63 per cent) support an affordable housing project being located in West and/or North Melbourne neighbourhoods.
- Half of respondents (50 per cent) support the Curzon Street car park location for affordable housing, and almost half (45 per cent) oppose it. The greatest opposition to the uses of an affordable housing project came from those who currently park their car in the car park (85 per cent).
- A majority of respondents (82 per cent) felt that it is very important to have a high-quality building that is safe and enjoyable for the future residents.
- Over two-thirds of respondents (80 per cent) felt that it is very important or somewhat important to have a building design that retains the heritage feel and scale of the neighbourhood.
- Under half of respondents (43 per cent) consider a building design that retains some car spaces for community use to be very important. Respondents who currently park their car in the car park were the most likely to rate this as very important (87 per cent).
- Most support of affordable housing in Curzon Street was that it would contribute to the diversity of the area. Where people were specific, they reported support for communities of mixed economic and social status, and that all types of people should be able to live in the area.
- There was considerable support for affordable housing in Curzon Street based simply on the need that is present in the city. An additional similar number of people stated that the benefits of this project would be that residents would be close to work, study and transport.
- Non-specific support for affordable housing was offered by a number of respondents, and many stated that benefits would be found for future residents/tenants of the development, noting in many cases that secure and affordable housing is a right and that it could potentially change people’s lives in profound ways.
- The most often reported concern about the affordable housing proposed for Curzon Street was the pressure on existing car parking network in the neighbourhood.
- While some respondents offered simple opposition to the proposed development or criticisms of the chosen site, a range of comments were made by respondents who feared an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour to the area.
- Suggested locations for affordable housing indicated that respondents want this type of development to both occupy currently under-utilised space, and in that these spaces be well connected to transport and amenities.
Impact
The Council Policy Priority is to lease Council land and partner with a community housing provider to deliver and operate the affordable housing project. Through the community engagement process we heard what was important to you to make this an innovative exemplar affordable housing project for the city. To maximise community benefit, if the project is to go ahead, the affordable housing project could include the following:
- A tenant type that includes workers from the city.
- A sustainably designed building that showcases design excellence and responds to the heritage of the local neighbourhood.
- A quality building for the future tenants.
- The consideration of retention of some public parking on site.
Next steps
We are now undertaking a feasibility of the site to test what is possible on the site. An important aim of this process is to test the insights and ideas raised through the engagement process, including those listed above.
At this stage of the project, no decision has been made about the future of the site. At the end of this testing phase, a recommendation will be presented to Council to decide whether or not Council proceeds to lease the land to a community housing provider for an affordable housing project.
If Council decides to proceed with the project, there will be an engagement process to lease the land for affordable housing and we will keep you up to date of the ways you can have your say about the project. We expect to have a decision about the next steps in early to mid-2023.
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