Warragul
Mason Street, Warragul
About the project
Our Mason Street, Warragul project is a four storey, architecturally designed, environmentally sustainable development above a partially raised basement at 8-18 Mason Street and unmade road to the rear of the property referred to as Paper Road. The housing development is delivered through a community housing model that supports residents and builds links with the community.
Mason Street is being developed under the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.
Housing Choices has appointed award-winning architectural practice Freadman White and landscape architect Simon Ellis Landscape Architects to craft and deliver the project.
The 51-unit development will feature one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two separate residential buildings and include a basement, office and multi-purpose space on the ground floor.
The development includes 38 car parks and 56 bicycle parks. Our proposal has been informed by a professional team of architects, town planners, and engineers. It has been designed to respond to the planning regulations that apply to the subject land.
All dwellings are designed to Livable Housing Australia Silver Level, certified Green Star rating and 7 Star NatHERS ratings.
The landscape design will feature native plants and an edible garden. Open spaces will provide dwellings with dual-aspect, natural light and cross-ventilation, while shared gardens, informal break-out spaces, open-air stairs, a bicycle workshop and shared spaces are designed to encourage community engagement.
The site is conveniently located in the heart of Warragul, close to the train station and a range of businesses and services.
Once construction is complete, Housing Choices Australia will manage these dwellings on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Housing Choices is an award-winning, Victorian-based national community housing provider and developer, with extensive experience in affordable and social housing tenancy and property management and community-building.
What is community housing?
Over 20,000 Victorian households currently live in community housing-owned and managed homes. They are from all walks of life – single people, couples, young families, older women, newly arrived Victorians and people with disability.
The community housing sector is a long standing and vital component of the Australian housing spectrum, alongside public housing and private housing. ‘Social housing’ is an umbrella term that includes both public housing and community housing. It generally indicates housing that involves some degree of rental subsidy. In Victoria, public housing is managed by Homes Victoria. Community housing is owned or managed by non-government, not-for-profit, registered housing agencies like Housing Choices.
Community housing providers are regulated by the Victorian Housing Registrar and hold specialist expertise in property development, property management, tenancy management and community development. We provide safe and secure homes to those who live on low incomes, often with disability. We are committed under our charter to deliver safe, secure and affordable homes to low-income renters, help residents maintain stable tenancies, and ensure they have access to support services and live in communities that will improve their circumstances and life opportunities.
More information on community housing can be found here.
The Big Housing Build
Under the $5.3bn Big Housing Build announced in 2020, the Victorian Government in partnership with community housing providers and developers, will deliver 12,000 new social and affordable homes while generating 10,000 jobs each year over the four-year program.
The Big Housing Build is investing 25 per cent of the total $5 billion program across regional Victoria. This will provide $1.25 billion across regional Victoria.
Community Consultation
The provisions of Clause 52.20-4, a streamlined planning provision that applies to Big Housing Build projects required Housing Choices to consult with the community and other stakeholders before applying for planning approval.
On 11 May 2023 an in-person drop-in information session was held, and on the 17 May 2023, a second community information session was held online for residents and businesses within 150m of the proposed development site. The project team presented at the sessions and responded to questions. Community members were also able to provide further feedback on the development proposal during the consultation period; 8 May -31 May 2023.
A report consolidating all consultation activities undertaken was submitted as part of our planning application process. This included feedback from the local community, Baw Baw Shire Council, Office of the Victorian Government Architect, utility providers and other stakeholders.
Privacy Statement
All personal information collected will be handled and protected in line with Housing Choices’ Privacy Policy and practices. The information collected will be used to inform the submission to the Department of Transport and Planning and Homes Victoria at high level. The consultation report will redact all identifying and personal information, including names, addresses and emails. No personal information given to HCA or their consultants will be provided to other parties as part of this process.
More information on HCA’s Privacy policy, Privacy Statement and Collection statement can be found here.