Housing for all forgotten australians

Greater Dandenong units to help ex-wards
11 Oct, 2010 01:00 AM
TWO parcels of land in Greater Dandenong have been eyed off by a developer for a 500-unit development for ex-wards of the state.

GoldCare, which helps build retirement and assisted living accommodation, wants to develop 61.5 hectares in Keysborough and 40.4 hectares in Dandenong. Thirty per cent of each site will be used for quality, low-budget housing for 'forgotten' Australians.

Both parcels of land are zoned green wedge, so the developer has to apply to Greater Dandenong Council for rezoning to residential before the project can proceed.

Doveton resident and former ward of the state Lindsay Mason has been a strong advocate of the proposed $120 million development.

He said the purchase of aged-care units on each site would fund the construction of the housing dedicated to wards of the state.

At age 13 Mr Mason was placed in state care, a time he describes as "devastating".

"It was a total feeling of the utmost rejection, it was so devastating it was incredible."

While his wife Heather helped him get back on his feet, other wards of the state "are not so lucky".

Mr Mason said many wards of the state turned to substance abuse and found it hard to gain employment, due to a lack of education.

"In a home you're more or less treated like a slave and you get some, but very little education," he said. "For most of them it's virtually impossible to sustain a job.

"Many wards of the state are unemployable because of psychological reasons, lack of education, lack of opportunity and lack of confidence within themselves."

He said there was an "absolute" need for quality, low budget accommodation for ex-wards of the state.

"I'm lucky enough to have bought a home," he said.

"There are, however, a lot of forgotten Australians who haven't even got a home to go to and are living on the streets or in real hell holes.

"I think that there is a definite need for these units. There are a lot of forgotten Australians round this area, and around Melbourne, who would really benefit from this project."