Last night an information session was held on the proposed Nicholls supportive housing development to a packed room at the Gungahlin library. The room was that full with all seats taken people were standing around the sides of the room, up the back and in the doorway.
This was a community consultation session with representative from Housing ACT and the Public Housing Renewal Taskforce to present information on the development on block 17, section 73 Nicholls.
Within a couple of minutes of starting the presentation one person in attendance stood up and declared that he was in objection to the development and felt he spoke for everyone else in the room. To this the majority of those in attendance clapped their affirmation.
The biggest sticking point throughout the presentation was the definition of ‘supportive housing’. There were claims by attendees the ACT Government had provided a link to a website that had a definition of supportive housing as: “The housing and on-site support services must be for persons who were previously homeless or are at risk of homelessness, who may also have mental illness, have or be recovering from drug or alcohol addictions, or experience other barriers to housing.” The link in question is to a Canadian website http://housing.gov.bc.ca/housing/supportivehsg.htm There was confusion as the staff representing the ACT Government had no knowledge of what was being claimed by those in attendance. It appears the confusion arises from a pamphlet circulated in Nicholls and the schools. It has been confirmed today this pamphlet was not produced or circulated by the ACT Government. It was also confirmed this definition has no legislative authority in the ACT.
The correct definition of supportive housing that relates to the ACT can be found here in the Definitions section of the Territory Plan: http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/2008-27/copy/102065/pdf/2008-27.pdf. This document states: Supportive housing means the use of land for residential accommodation for persons in need of support, which is managed by a Territory approved organisation that provides a range of support services such as counselling, domestic assistance and personal care for residents as required. Although such services must be able to be delivered on site, management and preparation may be carried out on site or elsewhere. Housing may be provided in the form of self-contained dwellings. The term does not include a retirement village or student accommodation.
Common Terminology includes aged persons units, community housing, older persons units, rooming house, university college.
It appears a lot of the confusion and angst last night was from this misinformation on this pamphlet.
The information provided last night and at the Gungahlin Community Council meeting in March was consistent in that the intended occupants of these residences would the elderly or those with a disability.
It was also announced last night that a number of changes to the development proposal have already been made based on feedback received to date. This includes reducing the number of dwellings from 16 to 14 and changes to landscaping. The revised proposal plan is below.
To see the full Development Application and details in how to make a submission in regards to the Development Application please see: http://www.planning.act.gov.au/
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