We invite the community to have its say on our proposal to lease our land at 116-120 Purnell Road, Corio for social housing for up to 50 years.
More than 4,500 households currently live in social housing in our region, but we'll need 13,500 new social housing dwellings by 2041 to meet demand.
Our proposal to lease a vacant site measuring approximately 2,298m2 is aimed at alleviating a shortage of social housing and increasing housing options in our region, in line with our Social Housing Plan 2020 – 2041.
During consultation in 2022, the Purnell Road site was the most supported for a social housing project, with 78 per cent of respondents believing social housing at this site was appropriate.
Council resolved in April for the City to seek a Registered Housing Association (RHA) partner/s for the land, on the condition that the City continues to own the site and that any development is entirely made up of social housing.
In order to facilitate the use of this Purnell Road site for social housing, a lease needs to be granted. The lease terms will be considered based on the successful RHA's proposal but may be for a period of up to 50 years.
Closing at 5pm on Friday 6 September, you cangive your feedback on the Have Your Say platform or by writing to:
Coordinator Property and Leasing
Greater Geelong City Council
Wadawurrung Country, PO Box 104, Geelong, VIC 3220
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken
I encourage community members to share their feedback before the engagement closes.Council asked the City to seek a partnership with Registered Housing Association/s to develop social housing at 116-120 Purnell Road, Corio because of the urgent need for housing of this type in our region.
The most time and cost-efficient option is to form partnerships with RHAs to explore projects, funding opportunities and plans for community engagement.
In order to create these partnerships, the City first needs to engage with the community about leasing the land for this purpose.
Councillor Sarah Hathway
The land on Purnell Road was in a residential area close to important services and businesses.This vacant site is situated in an area near the Norlane ARC, Corio Village, Corio Library and recreation reserves, ensuring that potential social housing tenants are engaged and part of the community.
This proposed lease is another step in the process of helping to support people on low incomes in Greater Geelong.
We look forward to a future report to Council to outline the findings of this engagement and the City's work to seek proposals for the site from a Registered Housing Association.
