A GROUP of about a dozen residents held an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss their opposition to the proposed Housing NSW development at 192 Princes Highway, Narooma.
State Member Andrew Constance, who also is shadow aging and disabilities minister, chaired the meeting and agreed with residents that while affordable State housing was important for any community, the location seemed "ludicrous".
"The community is not against affordable social housing going ahead, we need it, but what the community is dead set against is the State Government riding roughshod over the neighbours, community, shire and people of Eurobodalla," Mr Constance said.
The State Member, backed by the residents, aims to find out the process whereby the State housing authority purchased the prime block for an alleged $825,000.
And also how such a steep block could have been deemed suitable for those receiving housing assistance, including the disabled and elderly.
The opponents also question how much it is going to cost to build on such a steep block with drainage and access off Davison Street also an issue.
The proposal is for 18 one and two-bedroom units with residents understanding there could be a second stage in upcoming years.
Residents at Saturday's meeting queried why Housing NSW had allegedly reduced the number of housing commission homes from 63 to 40, while another man present said his own experience of living in affordable housing was that there was overcrowding with more than six people living in one-bedroom units.
The 192 Princes Highway block has been listed for sale and even though the billboard advertising its sale is still up, the residents believe Housing NSW had purchased the entire block.
Neighbouring resident John Wallens has the paperwork that proves the Eurobodalla Shire Council approved a 13-unit development on the block back in 2003.
But for whatever reason, this development fell through allowing the State Government to purchase the block.
The neighbours are encouraging all residents who oppose the development to write to the consultant undertaking the public consultation: David Fingland of KMH Environmental, PO BOX 5487, West Chatswood, NSW 1515.
Any comments needs to be received by Monday, March 1, but Mr Constance is planning another public meeting for Friday, March 5.
The State Member also is supporting a petition being circulated by opponents and plans to take it with him when raising the matter in State Parliament.
The petition drawn up by Mr Constance's office calls on the State Government not to proceed with the proposed department of housing project and instead relocate the development to an appropriate site, as well as undertaking community/council consultation with future housing projects.
Residents also suggested the following wording to go with the petition:
"Help Narooma get affordable housing for those in need. But let's get it right for everyone and build them in the most suitable areas in our community.
"This site is a steep gully and is not only extremely expensive to build on but is not suitable for our residents waiting on the NSW Housing list (some elderly or disabled).
"Let's give them room to move with some recreation areas, and not treat them differently by living together in a cluster being branded with the Government Housing stigma from the past."
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Federal Member Mike Kelly responded as follows:
“There is great need for public housing throughout New South Wales and the town of Narooma is no different.“
“The price of land along coastal strips will always be expensive because of the high demand in these locations.”
“This high demand has made accessing the housing market especially difficult for individuals on fixed incomes and I believe that these new social housing units will go some way to alleviating this problem in the Narooma community.”
“The Rudd Government is investing in Public Housing in an effort to address the epidemic of homelessness in our community, this problem is often not visible to the outsider but many social workers in our region tell me that the problem of “couch surfing” is at all time highs.”
Ultimately the decision on the location of these properties is a matter for the NSW authorities. I will raise the concerns of residents with the NSW Government.”
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