The ACT Planning Minister has used special powers to approve a home in Canberra's north for vulnerable women, including those fleeing domestic violence, after residents from the affluent suburb had the initial application approval overturned.
Canberra's YWCA had planned to build 10 stand-alone apartments in the Canberra suburb of Ainslie to shelter older women experiencing homelessness and women and children escaping domestic violence.
The development application was initially approved, but a group of locals objected to the plans, which led to it being overturned by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT).
Some of the reasons listed by locals against the project included environmental concerns, fears about traffic, and a lack of public transport.
But, today, Planning Minister Mick Gentleman announced he had used his "call-in" powers to approve a second development application — with the number of apartments reduced to nine — and prevent the application from being taken to the tribunal again.
Of the 257 submissions received to the second development application, 190 were in support of the development, while 67 were against it.
CEO of YWCA Canberra Frances Crimmins said the delay had been frustrating for the organisation, but urged those who objected to the site of the development to consider how the homes could bring diversity to the area.
"But I guess what we would say, when you view your neighbours, is 'let's look at the strengths they bring to the neighbourhood' and if people would open their mind and not view social housing tenants through a lens of 'what is wrong with you?' but actually, 'isn't it great that we've got a diverse community?'"
'Call the truce': YWCA looking to cooperate with neighbours
Ms Crimmins said she was grateful to the Planning Minister for clearing the way for the build to go ahead by using his "call-in" powers.
"It's a very happy day for us and we would genuinely like to thank Mr Gentleman for making an informed decision, and a considered decision in calling this application in," she said.
She added that the YWCA was looking forward to cooperating with neighbours as the homes were built in the coming months.
"We're looking forward to working with the neighbours, those who obviously didn't support it but also there were many who did," she said.
While some neighbours objected to the development, others like Meredith Edwards said she was "delighted" to see the project progressing.
"As an Ainslie resident, I am delighted to know that the YWCA's housing project designed to meet an urgent and growing need is to proceed at last," she said.
But president of the Ainslie Residents Association, Ian Hubbard, told ABC Radio Canberra the group was still against the project despite Mr Gentleman's use of his call-in powers.
"The new proposal really doesn't address most of the issues raised by the independent umpire, and so we were quite surprised that the minister … stepped in and used his call-in powers," he said.
"This is quite a small development to warrant the minister stopping all opportunity for appeals about the actual planning detail."
Mr Hubbard said the Ainslie Residents Association's largest concern about the build was the safety of future residents.
"If you've got a conglomeration of people who are escaping domestic violence, and you've got a path surrounding it which is dark, and the fencing ACAT described as easy to tackle — if you're going to do things like this, they should be at least meeting the community standards," he said.
Despite his concerns about the build, Mr Hubbard said social housing was something he — and the Ainslie Residents' Association — supported overall.
"I think the provision of social housing for people in Canberra is an important issue and I think it gets painted quite often that community members are against the provision of social housing," he said.
"That's completely wrong. In fact, those public housing tenants are our neighbours and our friends."
Planning system should protect vulnerable Canberrans: minister
Mr Gentleman said the planning system was an area of government that should be employed to protect vulnerable Canberrans.
"After careful consideration of the concerns raised by members of the community, I have used my call-in powers to approve this project and enable construction of these supported housing units to begin as soon as possible," he said.
He said he recognised the concerns raised by some members of the community, but said there were ways to address the issues raised and still build the housing.
"We have imposed a number of conditions on the development, including measures to safeguard protected trees on the site and the adjacent park, which were among the neighbours' concerns," Mr Gentleman said.
Ms Crimmins said she hopes the project will be complete and begin to house Canberra's most vulnerable in the next 18 months.
