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Wednesday 13 May 2020
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Volunteers, shire staff help needy ROSEBUD Memorial Hall has become a busy distribution centre for non-perishable and personal hygiene items for those doing it tough during the pandemic. Redeployed Mornington Peninsula Shire staff and up to 800 volunteers pack and send the goods bought from funds donated by members of the community. They are distributed through community information and support centres at Mornington, Hastings and Rosebud and other peninsula-based food relief programs. “It’s amazing how the staff and the volunteers have come together to help,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said. “It an example of community caring in which up until last week had distributed 1877 packages to those in need.” Cr Hearn said a “significant number” of other residents were being supported through referrals to ongoing support agencies, such as meals on wheels and the shire’s home care. AT the Rosebud Memorial Hall on Monday morning are Catherine West, James Oakley, Jo Bradshaw, Sue Hanna and Kayla Cartledge. Picture: Yanni
Plan to house the homeless Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will support small scale residential villagestyle accommodation for low-income earners away from the foreshore as part of its new social and affordable housing strategies. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn estimates up to 1000 people are homeless on the peninsula on any given night, with 3050 sleeping rough and others “couch surfing” or making do as best they can. Up to 11 tents were at Rosebud camp ground one night last week, with others at foreshore camping grounds from McCrae down to Sorrento. “Council can play a significant role in supporting grassroots action to ad-
dress homelessness and connecting residents with affordable and appropriate housing,” Cr Hearn said. “Ensuring everyone in our community has somewhere safe to live is a goal that is close to my heart, and this policy and additional plans are an important step towards achieving that.” The emphasis on low-cost housing is a key feature of the Triple A Housing Plan 2020-30, social and affordable housing and rooming house policies adopted by council at its 21 April meeting. The plan calls for more housing finance, making affordable housing part of the shire’s planning scheme as well as increasing housing diversity and supply across the peninsula. It aims to “incentivise” social and affordable
housing, encourage sponsorship of low-cost housing and to include the homeless in housing strategies. Cr Hearn said no specific sites for village-style accommodation had been chosen but that the shire had spoken with Nepean MP Chris Brayne about possible sites and finance. One possibility is the reserve adjoining the Mornington Peninsula Freeway extension near Boneo Road. The area has been touted as an ideal site for tiny houses which can be trucked in and set up with minimum fuss. Cr Hearn said shire planners were putting together a list of sites and projects which might be financed under a state government-led stimulus package. “Ultimately, we’d like to see the gap
filled in that area although it really is a state government matter,” he said. Following community workshops on social and affordable housing in 2018 council aims to set up a reference group to “foster and advance social and affordable housing initiatives for those in need”. The shire’s senior social planner housing justice and advocacy Rosalyn Franklin in a report to council on 21 April said while federal and state governments had the primary responsibility for housing local government had a “key role to play ranging from direct project contributions, coordination, advocacy, supporting system improvements and related services”. “The shire’s role will always focus on identifying gaps in the system that
affect the Mornington Peninsula, working out how existing resources can be stretched further and incentivising and facilitating needed improvements and new projects by, or, in partnership with others,” she said. Cr Simon Brooks said council’s plan would provide a framework to progress social housing on the peninsula. “New social and affordable housing planning applications will be fast tracked, meaning housing is available for those who need it most,” he said. Other features include making council land or money available for housing projects and making sure homeless people are treated with respect and have access to shelter, food and basic utilities.
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