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Social housing denied By Goya Dmytryshchak
Puppets light up Seaworks Large-scale puppetry company, A Blanck Canvas will host a one-night-only ’Puppet Mayhem’ event in Williamstown this month to celebrate the return of the arts, post COVID-19. Director Joe Blanck said the pandemic was a harrowing time for many small business owners and sole operators, particularly those in the arts. Since 2020, A Blanck Canvas has had a space at Seaworks Maritime Precinct, labelled the ‘The Playground’. It was envisaged this would become a community arts hub for performers, puppeteers, musicians and locals but then COVID hit. “I didn’t know if we would open the doors to the workshop again,” Blanck said. “We had grand plans for our space at Seaworks, which came to a screeching halt, as did a lot of things, during COVID lockdowns. “However, following COVID and the cancellation of many events, I feel this space is more important than ever.” Puppet Mayhem will feature giant illuminated puppets, including a 10-metre long lion named The Guardian. There will be acts, shows and activations from local, independent artists, including live music, giant flies and spiders performing aerial shows, stilt walkers and sway performers. “A Blanck Canvas wants to celebrate with all those in the arts industry and the community alike,” Blanck said. “We all deserve a good time.” Puppet Mayhem is on May 15 from 6pm-10.30pm at The Playground, Seaworks Maritime Precinct, 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown. Details: https://www.ablanckcanvas. com/events
(Supplied)
A proposal to allow affordable/social housing instead of student accommodation at a Seddon address has been refused by Maribyrnong council after strong opposition from residents. Unison Housing’s planning application for 69-79 Buckley Street received 21 objections from 14 properties. One objector who spoke at last week’s council meeting, David Vasudevan, said residents were not against social housing but “the level of concentration” in the area. “Our own neighbours next door – they’re tenants – they’re actually going to move out because of this application,” Mr Vasudevan said. “Their kids have been witnessing fights, arguments, police and ambulance call-outs … their kids can’t sleep in the front room because they’re traumatised by what happened.” According to a council report, Ambulance Victoria provided a detailed list of call-outs in nearby Bute, Buckley, Arran and Bilston streets and recorded 44, or one every eight days. Mayor Michael Clarke moved that the application be refused on several grounds including “an unacceptably high concentration of social and affordable housing in the area” and “adverse amenity impacts to surrounding properties”. He said the building was purpose-built for students and the rooms were “deliberately small” and unsuited to “long-term accommodation for highly-vulnerable clients”. “We recognise the need for affordable housing – we do not shirk from this as a responsibility – but implicit within this responsibility is the need to ensure that the environs that we give those who are in need is appropriate and commensurate to those needs,” Cr Clarke said. Cr Jorge Jorquera argued there should be affordable/social housing allowed at the address. Following the meeting, he took to social media to criticise the council’s refusal. “The rejection of this proposal means less options for homeless accommodation in a time of great and increasing need,” he stated. Councillors Michael Clarke, Anthony Tran, Sarah Carter and Cuc Lam voted for student accommodation at the address; councillors Jorge Jorquera and Bernadette Thomas supported affordable/social housing at the address. Cr Simon Crawford wasn’t present at the meeting.
Goya Dmytryshchak
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