2024 feedback
The conversation
As part of the City of Melbourne’s commitment to increasing affordable housing, we conducted community engagement on the proposal to lease two Council owned sites, 44-60 Curzon Street, North Melbourne and 325-341 Victoria Street, West Melbourne in May 2024.
The objectives of the community engagement were to:
- Inform the community of the proposal and the City of Melbourne’s commitment to affordable housing.
- Gather feedback from community to gain an understanding of the level of support for the lease of Council-owned land for affordable housing.
- Understand reasons for the level of support/opposition from the community for each site to inform future decision making.
Gathering insights
Council invited feedback on the proposal from 1 to 30 May 2024 and undertook the following activities:
- installation of on-site posters
- a project information letter was distributed to all residents and businesses within 500m of the sites
- a project page and online survey on Participate Melbourne
- social media promotion, including targeted paid advertising
- two street-based intercept survey sessions
- two online information sessions
- three in person drop-in sessions at North Melbourne Library
- a focus group session
- a meeting with the North West Melbourne Precinct Association.
Who we reached
8644 visitors
to the Participate Melbourne webpage.
791 surveys
were completed during engagement.
130 intercept surveys
where people were able to learn about the project.
47 conversations
were had by people at the drop-in sessions.
22 attendees
at an online information session.
13 written submissions
were received.
156 signatures
on a petition in relation to the proposal.
5 people
provided feedback at a focus group.
Who we heard from through the survey
- Residents 74%
- Workers 10%
- Business owners 4.5%
- Students 2.5%
- Visitors 4%
- Prefer not to say 2.5%
- Other 3.5%
What we heard
Survey participants were asked to provide their opinion on the proposed lease of the Curzon Street site for affordable housing.
Feedback was as follows:
- Strongly agree/agree 52% (51.72%)
- Neither agree or disagree: 7% (6.61%)
- Disagree/strongly: 42% (41.68%)
Exact percentages are provided below:
- Strongly agree: 42.19%
- Agree: 9.53%
- Neither agree or disagree: 6.61%
- Disagree: 5.72%
- Strongly disagree: 35.96%
During the consultation period, we also received a petition (signed by 156 people) against this proposal, as well as 13 submissions. All this feedback will be considered as part of the overall community feedback.
Survey participants were asked to provide their opinion on the proposed lease of the Victoria Street site for affordable housing.
Feedback was as follows:
- Strongly agree/agree 51% (50.94%)
- Neither agree or disagree: 6% (5.94%)
- Disagree/strongly: 43% (43.11%)
Exact percentages are provided below:
- Strongly agree: 41.21%
- Agree: 9.73%
- Neither agree or disagree: 5.94%
- Disagree: 5.82%
- Strongly disagree: 37.29%
During the consultation period, we also received a petition (signed by 156 people) against this proposal, as well as 13 submissions. All this feedback will be considered as part of the overall community feedback.
Across all engagements and over both Curzon Street and Victoria Street sites, community sentiment is divided on the decision to lease the sites to a community housing provider to deliver affordable housing. The survey results for both sites indicate a slight majority expressing agreement (generalised: 51% agree, 42% disagree, 6% neither agree nor disagree). However, sentiment from the online and drop-in engagements were overwhelmingly negative. Focus group attendees were supportive of this initiative.
Across all engagements, those who supported the developments indicated that implementation was important, and should involve thoughtful planning, integration with existing infrastructure, and community impact. Many indicated the favourable proximity of the sites to services and amenities. Some thought the sites are under-utilised as car parks and supported reducing reliance on cars in the area. Many responses echoed the themes of the previous, more general question in revisiting themes of housing crisis, housing rights, and diversity and equality.
Those who opposed the developments expressed significant concerns about the loss of parking spaces and potential impact on local businesses. This sentiment was strongly expressed by traders and small businesses. Likewise there was concern for the broader negative impacts on the community and strain on infrastructure and amenity. There were also significant worries about the introduction of low-income housing, including its potential to increase safety issues, such as drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and other social problems. There was also a feeling that the proposed sites were unsuitable for affordable housing because the area already has enough. Other responses involved doubts about feasibility and the need to explore alternative solutions.
We heard that 69% of participants either agree or strongly agree that the issue of affordable housing is important.
Participants were asked if Council-owned land should be used strategically to meet evolving community priorities. 72.5% either agree or strongly agree.
Supportive quotes:
Unsupportive quotes:
Impact
We are analysing the feedback we’ve received and will use this to inform Council’s decision on whether or not to lease the site/s for affordable housing.
There are multiple options for how Council may proceed, including:
- Proceeding only with one site (either Victoria or Curzon Street).
- Proceeding with both sites.
- Not proceeding with either site.
Next steps
The community feedback will be presented to Council for a decision. As outlined above, there are multiple options for Council to consider.
In addition to the feedback we’ve received through this process, we will consider Council’s policy objectives, the need for affordable housing, broader community feedback on affordable housing, and the findings of car parking studies.
All of these factors will inform Council’s decision on how to proceed.
If Council decides not to proceed with this proposal, Council will commence exploring other Council owned sites for affordable housing. If Council decides to proceed with the lease of one or both sites, the community will have the opportunity to comment on the future stages of the process, including the planning permit application once a community housing provider is determined.
2022 feedback
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 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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