Housing inequality leaving seniors & disabled behind – Moreland Council ignores worsening situation

One of the most disappointing displays of lip service to the principles of equality and inclusivity is Moreland Council’s refusal to address the situation of seniors and disabled being excluded by developers to housing suitable for their needs said Fawkner Residents Association (FRA) spokesperson Mr Joe Perri. 

Commenting further Joe Perri said, “Developers are deliberately excluding seniors, mobility challenged and parents of disabled children to housing in areas of Fawkner that would be most appropriate to their needs and this continues to be ignored by the Council.

“The approval by Council of five triple storey dwellings at 122 Jukes Road brought to 53 the number of recent residential dwellings in a handful of projects have been approved and not one meets the Liveable Housing Design, Gold and Platinum Level guidelines”.  

There is nothing being offered to seniors and mobility challenged in new housing projects in Jukes Road that would afford them access to the nearby Bonwick Street retail precinct, library, public transport, community centre, swimming pool and CB Smith Reserve sporting complex. 

Not only are these high-density projects anti-social, they are also anti-environment and contributing to urban heat island effect and climate change.

Joe Perri added, “Moreland Council proclaims it is committed to upholding the human rights of the municipality’s diverse community, yet chooses to ignore this issue of seniors and disabled/mobility challenged being excluded to housing appropriate to their needs”.

“The disabled and elderly have the right to be treated with respect and have the same opportunities for access to suitable housing.  So, it’s immensely disappointing to observe Council’s reluctance to live up to its own values of inclusiveness and challenging discrimination”.

It’s for this reason that rather than a VCAT challenge to Council’s approval of the development at 122 Jukes Road Fawkner, FRA referred the decision to the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission (Commission).

Joe Perri affirms that the problem stems from Moreland’s lack of an overarching urban vision embodied in a comprehensive roadmap to improve liveability, inclusivity, productivity, environment and sustainability of the municipality and its suburbs.

“Instead, Council has incoherent ‘thought bubbles’ such as MITS and Design Excellence Scorecard that are supposed to ‘incentivise’ developers to do the ‘right thing’ and fill in the urban planning void. 

“But rather than win-win-win outcomes for the community, environment and developers – it has been the developers that are smiling all the way to the bank”.

ENDS

Issued by the Fawkner Residents Association

Media enquiries:     Mr. Joe Perri

                                    Mobile:  +61 412 112 545    Email:  jperri@joeperri.com.au