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Council approval of development that deliberately excludes disabled sets new housing low in Moreland

Announcement posted by Joe Perri & Asociates 16 Jul 2019

Last week’s decision by Moreland Council to approve the construction of five triple storey townhouses on a single suburban block on Jukes Road that deliberately excludes the disabled and mobility challenged has set a new housing low for Moreland said Fawkner Residents Association (FRA) spokesperson Mr Joe Perri. 

 

Commenting further Joe Perri said, “There are many factors that angered me by the latest of these triple-storey squeezed together developments on Jukes Road – but by far seeking to maximise profit by ensuring not a single dwelling can accommodate the disabled and even the elderly is the most reprehensible”.

 

In voicing his objection at the Council meeting on behalf of FRA Joe Perri said it’s easy to say that in isolation, what’s the harm, it’s only one development? 

 

“But that’s just it, it’s not. This is the third such similar development within 50 metres of each other that share the same design attribute of deliberately excluding the disabled, aged and mobility challenged”, affirmed Joe Perri.

 

“As a result of Council’s approval, there will be 15 multi-level townhouses spread over three sites along Jukes Road within metres of each other – and not a single one able to accommodate the elderly, disabled and mobility challenged”.

 

In fairness, Moreland Council did object to the first of these three developments only to have VCAT give the project the green light – and in doing so, VCAT’s decision emboldened subsequent developers to follow suit condemning Jukes Road to become a ‘non-inclusive disabled free zone’.

 

During the protracted deliberation by Councillors, they regarded the cost and prospects of failure should the developer mount a VCAT challenge as a contributing factor for approving the development.

 

It was immensely disappointing to hear this said Joe Perri.  That contesting a multi-dwelling housing project that purposely excludes the disabled and mobility challenged wasn’t worth Council’s effort or cost.

 

Since the decision, Council has reached out to FRA and offered to work with the group to address their issues.  An offer that has been accepted by the group. 

 

In addition, the residents are going to mount a community VCAT challenge to the development in order to highlight the dual impact of non-inclusiveness and social harm of multiple dwelling projects in Fawkner.

 

The Residents Association will be meeting with Federal MP Mr Peter Khalil in early August to discuss the matter.  State MP Mr Frank McGuire has also been contacted for a meeting on this issue.

 

Meetings will be sought with the Ministers for Planning, Equality, Ageing and Disability to highlight this immense inequality in the State Government’s housing framework that disregards the principles of resilient and inclusive communities concluded Joe Perri.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by the Fawkner Residents Association

 

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