ACA explores Australia's luxury housing commission blocks.
For as little as $80 a week, residents get amazing views, the best addresses and millionaire neighbours.
It's little wonder these lucky few never want to leave.
Departments in charge of public housing in NSW, Queensland and Victoria provided ACA with written responses to our questions, which you can read below.
New South Wales Department of Finance and Services
Would the Department of Finance and Services ever consider selling off prime housing locations?
The Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) is currently in the process of completing the leasehold sale of 36 properties in The Rocks. No decision has been made on future sales. In general LAHC does consider sales for a range of reasons including realising the value in high value sites in order to fund new homes in other locations. Suitability of the housing for use by public tenants and availability of rehousing options is also considered.
How is it decided where public housing projects are built?
Public housing tenants generally have very low incomes, or are fragile aged or have some form of disability. This means that tenants generally cannot afford to travel, or have difficulty travelling. Tenants and their children also need ready access to support services (such as hospitals, shopping and doctors), employment services and to places of employment. As such, the closer public housing can be to transport, support services and jobs the better.
Why is it important to have public housing sites close to the city?
Social mix is important to all areas of a vibrant and functioning city.
Has the relocation of public housing sites from the inner city to outer suburbs been discussed in NSW before?
The location of public housing relative to the cost of the housing under constant consideration.
Victorian Department of Human Services
Would the Department of Human Services ever consider selling off prime housing locations?
The Victorian Government is developing a new long term vision for social housing - the Victorian Social Housing Framework - that will provide the direction for social housing into the future, and set directions for our portfolio in public housing.
How is it decided where public housing projects are built?
Housing and Community Building is focussing on the redevelopment of existing public housing stock, such as the Carlton redevelopment, the Olympia redevelopment in West Heidelberg, and the New Norlane project in Greater Geelong.
Why is it important to have public housing sites close to the city?
It is important that public housing tenants have good access to public transport, health and community services and job and education opportunities. While these locations need not be close to the Central Business District, they should have good access to transport.
Has the relocation of public housing sites from the inner city to outer suburbs been discussed in Victoria before?
No. This is not being considered.
Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works
Would the Department of Housing and Public Works consider selling off prime housing locations?
The Minister has noted that current tenants retain their occupancy rights. When properties fall vacant, renewal and redevelopment will be considered for high value sites.
The future use of public housing properties is based on the future need and redevelopment options for social housing at each location. This assessment also includes those high value sites.
There is ongoing need for social housing that is located in areas with easy access to public transport and services and facilities such as health, employment, education and support services.
The majority of households seeking social housing are eligible for one and two bedroom accommodation, which is primarily provided within multi-unit buildings.
Multi-unit accommodation generally better fits the reach of social housing participants and is more cost-effective per dwelling built.
How is it decided where public housing projects are built? Why is it important to have public housing sites close to the city?
Social housing assists households that have difficulties accessing accommodation in the private market and are in housing need.
New social housing developments are built in locations that have a significant number of applicants considered to be “very high” and “high” housing need.
Many of these applicants are elderly and/or have a disability and need to be close to support services, medical facilities, public transport and other services.
These services and facilities are often found in greater supply in urban areas and in particular inner city locations.
Has the relocation of public housing sites from the inner city to outer suburbs been considered in Queensland before?
The trend is really the reverse. Today there is a heightened awareness of the social problems associated with concentrated public housing estates including high levels of unemployment, crime and other indicators of social dysfunction. The clustering of social housing is widely regarded as inappropriate and there is strong evidence to suggest communities require a balanced mix from across different income levels.
As stated previously need including access to support services, medical facilities, public transport are also critical in determining where social housing should be located.
