Public transport and community services shortages are driving up the cost of living in Wyndham, making the city an unaffordable place for many families to live, a Senate inquiry into housing affordability has heard.
Wyndham council last week told a hearing into housing affordability that while the city had a high percentage of less expensive housing, many residents were experiencing financial stress.
The council’s submission said high eviction rates showed much of Wyndham’s “affordable housing” was evidently unaffordable.
In 2012-13, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal received almost 3000 requests for warrants of possession for houses in Wyndham, more than any other municipality in Melbourne.
The council said this was because people living in Wyndham were experiencing above average living costs.
“The lower cost of housing comes at the expense of a lack of basic living needs in a local area, including health services, education, affordable transport, healthy food and employment,’’ the council’s submission said.
‘‘Families are forced into car dependency and are vulnerable to rising costs of petrol. There is clear evidence that community and social infrastructure are not keeping pace with the needs arising from the strong rate of growth and development.”
The inquiry will release its findings in late November.
