Cade Lucas
A motion that could see land and property owned by Wyndham council used for affordable housing, passed at a meeting on Wednesday night, despite one councillor calling it emotional blackmail.
The motion from Chaffy Ward councillor, Robert Szatkowski, called on council to investigate whether its assets could be used to provide social and affordable housing and crisis accommodation.
Developing council owned land, re-purposing existing property and building partnerships with state government, private sector and community housing organisations, are among the options that will now be explored.
The use of air-rights, or the right to develop unused airspace directly above existing property, will also be assessed.
Cr Szatowski said the idea came after attending the opening of the Wyndham Orange Door, a facility that provides crisis accommodation to victims of domestic violence.
He said a shortage of other such facilities in Wyndham forced those needing support to leave the municipality and combined with the housing crisis and population growth, meant council had a responsibility act.
“The housing crisis isn’t elsewhere, it’s here in Wyndham” Cr Szatkowski said.
Speaking in opposition, councillor Mia Shaw said she wouldn’t be ‘emotionally blackmailed’ into supporting a proposal which went beyond council’s remit.
Cr Shaw said Wyndham had already adopted a housing affordability strategy that focused on advocacy rather than construction.
While supporting the need for more affordable and crisis accommodation and referring to her background working in the sector, she said housing was a state and federal responsibility.
“If this motion is adopted it could change council’s role.
”Contributing to the provision of social housing and crisis accommodation is not the role of local government and not the adopted council position” said Cr Shaw, who also warned that air-rights could make infrastructure even more expensive.
Her arguments failed to deter a majority of councillors, who backed Cr Szatkowski’s motion, eight to four.
A progress report will be presented to council in September.
