October 7, 2022
celebrating
Seniors 8 page liftout INSIDE A nod to a 1955 classic A new neon artwork by Geelong artist Glen Smith is a 21st century nod to John Brack’s famous 1955 painting ’Collins Street, 5pm’. The artwork, ‘Clare Street, 5pm’ has been installed on Grace Church, Clare Street, as part of a program to activate outdoor areas and support Greater Geelong’s night-time economy. “Most recently my artworks have been investigating local architecture with an absence of people,” Smith said. “I decided I wanted to make some new works less static, adding people crossing intersections within central Geelong. This concept in turn then reminded me of John Brack’s ‘Collins Street, 5pm’. So I decided to investigate how I could do a 21st century riff on his artwork by using neon as my medium instead of oil paint. “People have really liked how it brightens up a fairly utilitarian wall and have also commented on the diversity and inclusivity aspects. “I feel the colours and movement in my piece reflects our changing culture, street level activity and human intervention against the backdrop of our built environment.”
Glen Smith with his neon artwork ‘Clare Street, 5pm’ at Grace Church. (Ivan Kemp) 301292_03
Boost for social housing A $36 million grant will help build up to 90 houses and create 234 jobs in Geelong, it was announced this week. Housing Minister Danny Pearson announced grants from the Social Housing Growth Fund to build social housing across Geelong. Funding will be provided to Unison Housing, Common Equity Housing Limited and Northern Geelong Rental Housing Co-operative Ltd, Salvation Army Housing and CatholicCare Victoria. Seventeen community housing agencies will receive funding for planning and construction
of 46 projects that will deliver up to 683 homes in regional Victoria, creating nearly 2600 jobs and boosting Victoria’s economic recovery. “We’re delivering the biggest single investment in social housing Victoria has ever seen – we’re not just investing in bricks and mortar, but the lives of Victorians right across the state for years to come,” Mr Pearson said. However, opposition housing spokesman Richard Riordan said it was “too little, too late”. The opposition said more than 4000 families statewide were added to the priority housing register in the past 12 months, according to
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most recent data. In eight years, 26,247, or 20 families a day, have been added to our urgent housing waiting lists across the state, the opposition said. The latest figures from the Victorian Housing Register data shows there are 4175 applicants on the waiting list for public housing in Geelong alone and 267 in Lara. The figures don’t include the Surf Coast or the Bellarine Peninsula. “The Labor Andrews government has proven over eight years it has no capacity to solve the housing crisis in regional Victoria and an announcement of 683 homes will not
put a scuff mark on the priority waiting list,“ he said. “A Liberal government would immediately move to fast-track land and partnerships with Housing Associations, not for profits and the superannuation industry to get the homes built that Victorians need.” The project sites have been chosen because they have the most critical demand and are close to services residents will need, the state government said. Projects will be commencing throughout 2023 as planning and other approvals are obtained.
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