More than seven out of 10 Canberrans want to see public housing in their neighbourhood and two thirds support the redevelopment of old stock.
New research, conducted as part of the wider consultation around the public housing renewal program, confirms what most of us already knew: Canberrans are welcoming people who support an inclusive community.
The Government has been open and transparent with the community about the public housing program, and it has been heartening to hear that, despite isolated resistance from a small number of residents, public housing is being welcomed into communities. This tells me that we really are an inclusive city.
The recent phone poll of 1400 Canberrans found more than 70 per cent were in favour of their suburb continuing to include public housing. Levels of support vary by area and age group, but what is clear is that the majority of people in all areas of Canberra recognise the importance of public housing. This Government shares the community’s view, which is why we’ll deliver 1300 new dwellings to replace outdated housing stock. It’s why we’ll continue to spread public housing across the city.
Last week I announced more than half the required sites for the renewal program have already been identified and the program will support more than 2,500 construction jobs.
Support is highest (83.8 per cent) in the inner north and lowest (65.8 per cent) in Belconnen.
More inner south residents (77.3 per cent) are in favour than people in the rest of Canberra (72.1 per cent), and more women (75.7 per cent) than men (69.2 per cent) support public housing in their suburb.
People aged 40 to 64 are most in favour (78.9 per cent), followed by those aged 65 or older (70.9 per cent). Support in the 18-39 age group is 67 per cent.
Well over four in five Canberrans (84.4 per cent) agree that public housing should be provided in smaller developments rather than in large estates, and two in three (66.7 per cent) say that older public housing estates should be redeveloped.
Nearly three in four Canberrans (73.6 per cent) support a wide range of housing choices in existing suburbs, and more than seven in ten (72.9 per cent) are in favour of urban renewal developments close to schools, shops and transport.
Overall, two-thirds of Canberrans (66.7 per cent) agree that older public housing estates should be redeveloped, though support ranges from a low of 57.5 per cent in Gungahlin to a high of 72.8 per cent in Tuggeranong.
The survey, by Winton Sustainable Research Strategies, also found that three in five people (60.7 per cent) agree with allowing some increase in height and density to support high-quality design and open space.
The Public Housing Renewal Taskforce commissioned the survey to provide an objective, representative measurement of community views.
A separate Facebook survey targeting younger people found that 90 per cent rated ensuring affordability and choice of housing as their most important priority to make Canberra a more liveable city in future. Close behind at 89 per cent was ensuring efficient, accessible and affordable transport options and keeping Canberra green and leafy with lots of open space.
The 274 respondents who live or work in the inner south gave a useful perspective on liveability and new housing development in Canberra.
The Winton Sustainable Research Strategies survey report and the Liveable Canberra Survey Research report by Elton Consulting are available at www.act.gov.au/housingrenewal
Loading ...
