$18 million for 92 new affordable homes in Dandenong

A lot of imagination was needed as Housing Minister Richard Wynne and residents of older RSL housing units in Dandenong gazed across a vacant site that will become Harmony Village, a 92-unit housing development on the outskirts of the Dandenong shopping precinct.

The site was formerly owned by the Dandenong RSL and was used for lawn bowls and other sporting pursuits.

In selling the land to not-for-profit housing association Common Equity Housing Limited, the RSL negotiated for 20 elderly RSL housing residents to have the option to relocate to Harmony Village in Herbert Street.  

“Thanks to a $13.6 million Government investment, the new social housing development will be a massive boost to affordable housing for low-income families and older people in and around Dandenong,” Minister Wynne said.

“Dandenong is a priority area for affordable housing because it is an established community well located to health and community services, transport, employment and education. The new homes will be perfectly located for low-income residents who live here.”

“The Victorian Government is providing 75 per cent of the project funding, through the Social Housing National Partnership Agreement between the State and Commonwealth Governments.”

“More than $4.5 million is being contributed by Common Equity Housing which will manage 60 of the homes, with the remaining 32 to be sold to Doutta Galla Aged Services, a not-for-profit aged care agency,” said Minister Wynne.

The development will deliver 16 one-bedroom and 44 two-bedroom units, a new community space and a Men’s Shed.

The homes will also offer environmentally-sustainable design features, such as passive solar design to aid heating and natural ventilation, as well as water harvesting, water efficient fittings and appliances.

“We expect these features will allow the new homes to achieve a minimum six-star energy rating, which will minimise the development’s carbon footprint,” Minister Wynne said.

The project is due for completion by the end of 2010.