August 2008

$7 million housing boost for Norlane

Norlane public housing tenants will benefit from a $7.4 million boost, Housing Minister Richard Wynne has announced.

Mr Wynne turned the initial sod to begin work that will see eight new townhouses—the first of a total of 40 homes—with carports and water tanks built on the vacant land at 16 Wisteria Grove where a three-storey walk up building used to stand.

‘These new homes will incorporate the latest environmental-friendly features and will have a minimum five-star energy efficiency rating.

‘That’s a win for the environment and a win for the tenants through lower energy bills.’

The new homes will replace older public housing units, which were no longer suitable.

The 40 new homes will consist of 26 two-bedroom homes, two four-bedroom houses, five two-bedroom older persons units and one one-bedroom older persons unit.

The development will also include six one-bedroom units with a smaller second bedroom, making them ideal for a single parent with a child or for older people who may have grandchildren sleeping over.

Mr Wynne also announced the upgrade of another 30 Norlane homes with work including fencing, paving replacement, internal and external painting, gutter replacement, provision of safety switches and bathroom and kitchen repairs.

While in Norlane Mr Wynne opened the new Community Contact Point in Yooringa Avenue as part of Neighbourhood Renewal—a demountable unit formerly part of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Village where it was used by the Ugandan team.

Known to locals as 61Y, the building will be used as a community facility.

It includes work spaces for up to 10 paid and volunteer workers, a large meeting space which can accommodate 30, a kitchenette and community access to ICT equipment.

‘Neighbourhood Renewal in Corio and Norlane started in December, 2002.

‘It has since has delivered more than 1,240 upgrades to publicly-owned homes and has seen the Victorian Government inject more than $28 million for Neighbourhood Renewal projects in the area,’ Mr Wynne said.