Hume council wants a proposed housing development on the site of the former Broadmeadows Primary School to include a mix of one and two bedroom social housing properties and a neighbourhood park.
The state government in November announced plans to sell the 2.16-hectare site at 2-16 Nicholas Street. The site has been deemed surplus to requirements and earmarked for rezoning and development as part of the government’s Inclusionary Housing Pilot.
Private and social housing will be built on the land, which will be developed by a private builder in conjunction with community housing providers.
In a submission to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the council said it was important the site offered one and two bedroom properties.
According to the council, 87 per cent of Broadmeadows’ social housing are three-bedroom properties, while seven per cent are two bedroom and just one per cent are one bedroom properties.
Close to 14 per cent of the suburb’s population is single-parent households.
“Housing stock in Broadmeadows largely comprises older, former public housing two and three bedroom dwellings that although affordably priced when compared to Melbourne’s median houses price, offer few options for small and ageing households seeking well-located and sustainable housing,” the submission said.
“Given the significant proportion of single-parent households and an ageing population, there is a need for greater housing diversity within Broadmeadows to ensure housing supply is meeting the needs of the wider Broadmeadows community.”
Cr Karen Sherry said the council would like the development to include a 0.75-hectare neighbourhood park.
The department is proposing that a much smaller “pocket” park be built.
The department is expected to make a recommendation on how the Nicholas Street site should be developed to Planning Minister Richard Wynne by about the middle of next month.
