Public Housing for Whitten Oval

**LostDoggy** · 17-11-2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by alwaysadog

My betting is that this development, if it proceeds and we might still end up in the courts over it, is as much driven by dollar concerns as it is by concerns for the well being of the less well off.

Believe it or not, these aren't mutually exclusive either. In fact, it is the best way to get socially/culturally/environmentally necessary things done in a market economy!

**Remi Moses** · 17-11-2009, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Mofra

Have you ventured past the shared-arrangement public housing project in Kensington (opposite the pool & fitness centre)?

It works fantastically well due to the mix of residents living there - crime rates are down by over 90%, the gardens and public areas are clean & tidy and it remains a rather quiet place to live.

I'm not doubting your experience, but times (and public housing management) have/has changed in many areas.

Good call . The way we perceive people in this country just astounds me at times. Stereotyping people is the norm

**Twodogs** · 17-11-2009, 01:11 PM

The car park area that the club are building in has tradionally had housing on it anyway. Up until 25-30 years ago it was all terrace housing.

**alwaysadog** · 17-11-2009, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Lantern

Believe it or not, these aren't mutually exclusive either. In fact, it is the best way to get socially/culturally/environmentally necessary things done in a market economy!

They certainly aren't mutually exclusive, that was not the point. However it is far from universally accepted as being the best way to get things done.

**BulldogBelle** · 17-11-2009, 11:34 PM

The latest article on the subject....

Search for common ground
The Star News Group | BY Charlene Gatt | 17th November 2009

The Western Bulldogs and Maribyrnong City Council are at loggerheads over a planned housing development.

In plans seen by Star, the Western Bulldogs and HomeGround development will provide 54 Common Ground supportive housing units with “tailored” on-site support services and 36 one-bedroom, 120 two-bedroom and 41 three-bedroom affordable housing units across three buildings.

Each building is expected to stand five storeys high.

The development, which is based on the Common Ground model, will have CCTV and will be staffed by a round-the-clock concierge who will control access to the Common Ground building and monitor access to the affordable housing units.

At least two staff will carry out concierge duties after hours. Entry to the building will be through the concierge and by access card only after hours.

The development will include on-site medical, counselling, therapeutic, recreational and vocational services.

The development will also include a social enterprise café, a 1.2 km ‘Tan of the West’ running track, a community Learn to Swim and hydrotherapy centre and community fitness centre that will supplement the separately funded community sports/multi-purpose hall, which is due for completion in early 2011.

Saracen Properties, who will be the property development manager for the project, is contributing $5 million to the development. The Bulldogs and HomeGround have applied for a Federal Government grant to cover the remaining amount.

The bill to change the use of Whitten Oval has already been passed in the Lower House and was due to be debated in the Upper House yesterday, at the time Star went to print.

Bulldogs CEO Campbell Rose said construction was likely to start in the first half of 2010 if the proposal got the nod from the state and federal governments.

The development has received overwhelming support from the community and stakeholders, including the AFL, Early Childhood Management Services, Grocon Constructors, ME Bank, Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, Magistrate John Doherty, Common Ground and affordable housing and support service Wintringham.

However, the $88.5 million project has become fraught with controversy since Maribyrnong City Council voiced its objections against the development in early October.

Concerns include a loss of public open space, the development being placed on a parcel of land the size of a “postage stamp” and creating an enclave of some of the area’s most disadvantaged.

Click HERE to read the remainder of the article...

**Topdog** · 18-11-2009, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by BulldogBelle

The development has received overwhelming support from the community and stakeholders, including the AFL, Early Childhood Management Services, Grocon Constructors, ME Bank, Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, Magistrate John Doherty, Common Ground and affordable housing and support service Wintringham.

However, the $88.5 million project has become fraught with controversy since Maribyrnong City Council voiced its objections against the development in early October.

I love these 2 paragraphs right next to each other. Supported by a multitude of corporations and "important" people, opposed by the Maribyrnong Council