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Fears affordable housing project in Melbourne’s west will entrench isolation for new residents

Community leaders in Melbourne’s west have raised concerns a plan to convert a slice of land next to a freeway into more than 800 homes could result in social isolation for its new residents, unless major changes are made.

The proposed 41-hectare site in Cairnlea is just off the busy Western Ring Road and was part of the Albion Explosives Factory from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Development Victoria plans to build 840 homes on the site, 25 per cent of which will be affordable and social housing.

Graeme Blore has spent 17 years working in Cairnlea with communities dealing with social disadvantage.

He wants to see more social housing in the suburbs, but he is not convinced Development Victoria’s plans strike the right balance.

“It’s a vital issue, and really important to every community, but it actually needs to be done in a way that’s holistic, that embraces and enhances community,” he said.

A fence with a sign stating it is private property and dumping is prohibited
More than 800 new homes will be built at the Cairnlea site.(ABC News: Darryl Torpy)

One of his main concerns is the site’s proximity to late-night pokies venues on Ballarat Road.

The venues netted $80,000 per day in 2019-2020, according to Brimbank City Council data.

The council area, which covers Cairnlea and surrounding suburbs such as Deer Park and St Albans, has the highest pokies losses in the state — an average of $444,000 per day or $92 million per year.

“It has the potential to end up as a social housing ghetto, with a lack of opportunity,” Mr Blore said.

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