MELBOURNE, Australia - Dec. 15, 2019 - One of the worrying aspects of Spring Street's obsession with development is the unintended consequence of social inequality and access to suitable housing for seniors, mobility challenged and families coping with disabled parents and children said Fawkner Residents Association's Mr Joe Perri.

Commenting further Perri said, "Developments are coming onto the market in Fawkner in high-density zones that do not meet Liveable Housing Design gold and platinum level guidelines. As a result, seniors and mobility challenged are being deprived of access to housing suitable for their needs in areas that are close to shopping, medical and other amenities".

"By far the worst is Jukes Road and more recently Hood Crescent".

27 new dwellings over seven sites in Jukes Road have been approved that do not meet gold/platinum guidelines.

Seniors and the mobility challenged would benefit from a home on Jukes Road with access to the nearby shops, library, community centre, swimming pool, etc. Instead developers are ignoring their needs.

It's almost like the developers banded together and constructed a large sign declaring Jukes Road a seniors and disabled free zone said Perri.




There is currently an application before Moreland Council for 8 townhouses to be constructed on Hood Crescent bringing the total to 18 with the adjacent development approved this year.

Seniors and the mobility challenged would benefit from access to the Merri Creek parkland that surrounds the quiet residential enclave, however again there's nothing to suit their needs.

"But it's the lost opportunity that I regard as the most disturbing", said Perri.

"Fawkner has a quite a number of elderly residents living lonely lives in homes they struggle to maintain physically and financially. However, they can't consider down-sizing as developers are not providing housing for their specific needs.




"Instead of a win-win scenario providing an incentive to downsize that would result in more properties to address the inner-city housing shortage – we have a missed opportunity and an appalling example of greed embodied in uncaring, unsustainable housing projects that exclude seniors, disabled and the mobility challenged".

Adding his voice, Mr Gino Iannazzo of Australian Pensioners' Voice said, "I'm not surprised elderly residents have been overlooked in yet another example of profits before people".

"Instead of access to housing options that would provide peace of mind and quality of living – they have nothing. Is it any wonder seniors feel abandoned by government"?

Moreland Council and Spring Street must join forces to address this situation with decisive action in 2020 affirmed Joe Perri.

Issued by the Fawkner Residents Association

Media enquiries: Mr. Joe Perri

Mobile: +61 412 112 545 Email: jperri@joeperri.com.au

Contact
Joe Perri