APRIL 2, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
news + sport + property guide
Car fans in for fast fun Car lovers of the west, start your engines – the Myrniong Historic Car Sprint is back for another year. As part of the event, vintage cars from the 1920s up to the mid-’70s will be displayed, with many racing the clock along an 850-metre stretch of Korobeit Road on April 14. Steve Pike, who has been restoring cars for years, said the sprint was always a highlight. “It’s always a fantastic day out, not just for the racers or those showing their cars, but also for families,” Mr Pike said. “There’s production cars and sports cars – and they’re broken up into the different classes and you race the clock along the track. “I think the best time is around 26 seconds, but most people just want to beat their personal bests.” Along with all the automotive entertainment, there will food and activities for the family. The event raises funds for the maintenance of Myrniong Hall. “There’s normally about 100 entries, and then probably 200 to 300 people coming down, so it’s a big day for the Myrniong community,” Mr Pike said. “A lot of sponsors in the community have contributed towards trophies and vouchers for the various categories, so it will a good fun day out.” Entry costs $10, children free. Steve Pike with his Austin Healy. (Dennis Manktelow)
Ewen McRae
Western rents head north By Jim Malo Rents in some western suburbs have increased at the same rate as some of the city’s most prestigious suburbs over the past year, sparking alarm from advocates who are warning of increased rental stress among families. Melton rents have increased by more than 20 per cent in the past five years, with the median weekly rent rising from $270 in 2013 to $330 in 2018. That rise of 22.2 per cent is in the top five rent increases in metropolitan Melbourne suburbs.
Median weekly rents increased by 15 per cent over the past year in Keilor and 5 per cent in Broadmeadows and Roxburgh Park. Rents over the same period in Malvern have increased by 7.6 per cent and by 7.5 per cent in Albert Park and Middle Park. Inner-city rents, on the other hand, have declined the most amid Melbourne’s cooling house prices, new Department of Health and Human Services figures show. Over the past five years, traditional affordability bastions of Werribee and Hoppers Crossing have experienced rent increases of
more than 20 per cent. That growth in prices is behind only Thornbury and Armadale, the department’s December 2018 Rental Report shows. Keilor’s 15 per cent growth over the past year was particularly stark given its five-year growth from 2013 to 2018 of 21.7 per cent was the sixth highest across the city. Tenants Victoria policy officer Natalie Rutherford said the rise increased the levels of housing stress for vulnerable families. “A family with two children receiving Newstart, an income of $793, and renting a
three-bedroom house in Keilor pays more than 44 per cent of their income just to put a roof over their heads,” she said. “Affordable private housing is hard to find, badly maintained, and expensive to heat.” A generational change was occurring in Keilor, leading to bigger properties being rented out for higher prices, Brad Teal director Brad Teal said. “It’s the end of the generational cycles where people are moving out of homes and putting them on the rental market for the first time,” he said.