By Alesha Capone
A $30 million, 74-home social and affordable housing development will be built in Werribee.
Werribee MP Tim Pallas and Housing Minister Richard Wynne helped turn the sod at the site of the Cottrell Street development last Thursday.
The project, a partnership between the state government and social housing provider Unison, will create 50 new jobs.
Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2022.
The Werribee social and affordable housing development has been funded by the state government’s Building Works package, which was announced in May last year.
Under the package, $498 million has been allocated to repair, upgrade and construct more than 23,000 social housing units across Victoria.
“These projects are providing new and improved housing for people in our community as well as valuable employment for local job seekers and businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic,” Mr Pallas said.
Once the Cottrell Street complex is built, support services will be provided on-site by Jesuit Social Services and Bolton Clarke’s Homeless Person’s Program, in collaboration with Unison and the Wyndham Health Housing and Homelessness (H3) Alliance.
In October last year, Star Weekly reported that Unison had purchased the Cottrell Street site to build social and affordable housing on.
Unison’s chief executive James King said the development would “provide much-needed social housing for people who are homeless and affordable housing for people who are employed but on a low income”.
Unison provides social and affordable long term rental accommodation in Victoria for people who are on a low income, including the employed and those on Centrelink benefits.
“This new development has been designed with a focus on renters’ wellbeing, safety and quality of life,” Mr King said.
“Unison has high standards and build places that residents can be proud to live in.
“We want people who live in our buildings to feel safe, welcome and connected to their community.”
