Merrilyn's new home in Wantirna

After living in transitional housing in Ferntree Gully for the last four years, Merrilyn Horne was delighted to receive advice that she was to be one of the lucky people to move into a recently completed $3.4 million, 25-unit housing development in Wantirna.

The new homes are the result of the Victorian Government’s commitment to create more and better affordable rental housing for low-income Victorians close to health and community services, transport, education and employment.

Housing Minister Wynne recently met with Merrilyn and the other new tenants to open the project and thank those who had worked on the planning, design and construction.

The homes have been specially designed to suit older people, with some of the units modified for people with special needs.

These two-bedroom homes provide residents with a safe and secure place to live and cater for older people who need the additional room as temporary accommodation for relatives or carers or to store medical equipment for their personal care.

Their close proximity to local services and transport allows resident’s easy access to local amenities and this also means they can remain in their community as their accommodation and other needs change.

Merrilyn Horne’s unit and the other 24 units each includes a private rear garden with shed, a 700-litre water tank, energy efficient space heater and solar hot-water services and have a minimum five-star energy rating.

The homes are built around landscaped community gardens and have a common room which encourages people to get together and build new friendships.

The community room will be managed by Harrison Community Services and will be the used as a focal point for entertainment, library services and community service consultations.

McCabe Architects designed the homes and Loriana Homes managed the construction using low maintenance external materials, including concrete roof tiles, power coated aluminium window frames and concrete floor slabs.

Recognising the need for more affordable rental housing in areas of high demand across Victoria, the Government has embarked on the largest housing construction program in Victoria’s history, which will buy or build around 6,500 public and social homes over the next three years. This is supported by our partnership with the Australian Government to deliver the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, with $1.1 billion invested in 4,500 new homes in Victoria, and to support jobs and local industry.