News - Berwick Star News - 14th April 2022

Page 1

BERWICK

Thursday, 14 April, 2022

/berwickstarnews

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

@StarNews_SE

40¢ Inc. GST

Good Friday close to home

Fabulous century for Fred

Maccas Cup hits Casey

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

PAGE 8

SPORT

12496498-DL22-21

Berwick Councils make election pitch

‘Worst-ever’ crisis By Eleanor Wilson

Local homelessness services are warning housing is stress in the City of Casey is the worst they’ve ever seen. has seen it in 25 years. “When I first started working here, if someone was homeless generally by the end of the day we would have found them a crisis house. That’s impossible now,” she said. Ms Magee said more public and social housing is needed to take pressure off the private rental market. According to 2019 estimations from the City of Casey, there is a shortfall of 5,655 affordable housing dwellings with an unmet need in the City. Without intervention, the unmet affordable housing would amount to more than 10,200 households by 2041. City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said council is continuing to address homelessness and housing stress in the municipality. “Council will continue its advocacy seeking representation of diverse housing types to meet specific regional needs including crisis accommodation as well as funding for further support for those at risk of homelessness in Casey in the lead up to the State Election,” she said. The council has made submissions to both the Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness, and the Victorian Government’s 10-year Strategy for Social and Affordable Housing to address the shortfall of affordable housing in the area.

12497981-NG23-21

Pakenham, Drouin, Yarra Junction and Narre Warren Offices | P 5941 5166

Dogs find their way home Narre Warren woman Abbey Keys is thanking locals for their search efforts after her two dogs were found separately on the

Princes Highway on-ramp at Narre Warren last week. Read more page 5

ADVERTISEMENT

Orthodontic Treatment for children and adults utilising the latest technologies including SureSmile, Invisalign, lingual and clear appliances. Proudly supporting and servicing Casey for over 20 years

We offer flexible, interest free payment plans to make orthodontics accessible to everyone.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Suite 5, Level 1/18-24 Clyde Rd, Berwick Phone: (03) 9330 0702 | info@seortho.com.au | www.seortho.com.au

12495647-DL21-21

WE MAKE CASEY CARDINIA SMILE

DIVORCE OPEN FOR BUSINESS! For in office consults. Online consults still available.

Beauty therapist Abbey Keys was reunited with pets Zena and Zues after a week long search.

12529636-BL01-22

Homelessness services are warning of a worstever ‘housing crisis’ unfolding in the City of Casey. According to data by SQM Research, residential vacancy rates in South-East Melbourne are currently sitting at 0.9 per cent - its lowest rate since May 2010. South East homelessness services provider Wayss says house prices and rentals are on the “fastest growth trajectory on record” across the region and the whole of Victoria. “This puts even rental properties in our region out of reach for so many people, especially those on low incomes and those who are dependent on government benefits,” its chief executive Wayne Merritt said. “People end up staying in short term crisis accommodation and other sub-standard living environments because there is simply no other option.” Manager of trauma and recovery at notfor-profit community organisation Windermere Helen Consta agreed many families in the Casey area are struggling to find ongoing accommodation, with crisis accommodation resources also overwhelmed. “The evidence for us is that the rental housing stock appears to have decreased and people are reporting open for inspections with 50 to 60 people turning up,” she said. “What that means is vulnerable people that might be living on benefits go to the bottom of the queue with regard to rental assessments.” Ms Consta said the economic stress of the Covid pandemic and recent amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act may have caused landlords to sell their rental properties, further tightening the rental market. Research released by advocacy group Everybody’s Home found rental stress was at 64 per cent in the federal electorate of Bruce, and 63.1 per cent in the Holt electorate. Executive officer at Casey North Community Information & Support Service Susan Magee said housing stress in the area is the worst she

Authorised by B. Battin MP 3/445 Princes HWY Officer 3809. Funded from the Parliamentary Budget.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.