Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): My adjournment is to the Minister for Housing, and I seek his action to ensure key social housing developments in the electorate of Northcote are completely free from gas. The Northcote electorate currently has two significant Homes Victoria projects underway to transform dilapidated housing estates at Walker Street in Northcote and Oakover Road in Preston. These projects are delivering more social housing that is modern and accessible to the tune of 200 new homes across both sites. They are two of the three projects currently underway in partnership with HousingFirst and developer MAB, with the third being in North Melbourne. As chair of the community consultative committee for Northcote and Preston I have worked to incorporate the views of residents and the community in the plans, and I am very pleased to share that our new homes will achieve a 5-star Green Star rating and exceed 7-star nationwide house energy rating scheme ratings. They will have all-electric appliances, heating and cooling.

However, I have been concerned that these projects still contain plans for gas hot water. In May this year I rose in Parliament to ask the minister about ensuring our $5.3 billion Big Housing Build is delivering energy-efficient and gas-free homes across Victoria. The minister was able to confirm that the new homes will have all-electric specifications and solar systems as standard—truly homes for the future. Yet because the Northcote, Preston and North Melbourne projects were instigated much earlier and are much further along in terms of design, planning and approvals than our recent Big Housing Build projects, there have been significant challenges in terms of altering the specs.

The Andrews Labor government has acted strongly to transition Victoria to clean energy and set ambitious targets for zero net emissions. A key lever is reducing our reliance on household gas, something I have actively pursued within government. It is my strong view that before we move wholeheartedly into construction of these inner-north sites we have a unique opportunity to do more, to go further and to deliver truly gas-free homes. To that end I have worked closely with locals, Homes Victoria and the developer to explore opportunities to install central electric heat pumps rather than gas hot water. In August I wrote to the minister to make the case for removing gas from these sites and sought his support to get it done. Moving to a gas-free project would not only help reduce our local reliance on gas but also help futureproof our social housing and deliver long-term cost-of-living benefits for residents.

Making the most of opportunities like this is exactly what Labor is all about. I am immensely proud to be part of a government that takes climate action seriously and does the work to integrate sustainability into the core of our projects. Residents of Northcote share my commitment to a sustainable future and strong social justice values. This is an opportunity to reduce emissions and reduce household bills. I would greatly welcome the minister’s support in removing gas hot water from these new homes.

Answer

Answered: 15 December 2021

I thank Ms Theophanous MP, Member for Northcote, for her question and her continued commitment as chair of the Northcote and Preston Community Consultative Committees, which brings together members of the local community to ensure effective communication throughout the redevelopment process.

The renewal of the Walker Street, Northcote site, and Oakover Road site in Preston will deliver 205 new social housing homes, an increase of 80 per cent (or 92 homes). The sites include a mix of social and private homes to build integrated communities and meet the housing needs of a greater range of Victorians, including at least 20 per cent of private homes to be prioritised for first home buyers. As stated, the homes will be energy-efficient, carrying a 7-star Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme and 5-star Green Star rating accreditation, meaning residents will pay less to keep their homes cool in summer and warm in winter.

I am pleased to advise the Walker Street, Northcote, and Oakover Road, Preston sites will be gas-free.

Moving to an electric heat pump solution not only demonstrates our Government’s commitment to climate action for a sustainable future but will also further reduce annual water bills for social housing tenants compared with a gas hot water solution.

Construction of the social housing will begin in early-2022 at Preston and mid-2022 at Northcote.

Again, I thank Ms Theophaous for her continued advocacy for environmental and social justice for some of the most vulnerable members in our community.

Hon Richard Wynne MP
Minister for Housing 

Date: 8 / 12 / 2021