26 September 2023

Homelessness housing finds common ground

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Common Ground Dickson has moved on to its next phase of development, set to help deliver support to the most vulnerable in the Canberra community.

Minister for Planning and Land Management, Mick Gentleman said he’d called in Common Ground Dickson and associated infrastructure works to support people to move directly from homelessness into permanent housing.

“We promised to deliver Common Ground Dickson and this call in will ensure it can be constructed to help vulnerable Canberrans and create local construction jobs,” Mr Gentleman said.

“There are strict conditions on the approval to ensure trees and heritage are protected, public facilities and green spaces are improved, and the Dickson Precinct Map is complied with,” he said.

Mr Gentleman said the development proposal had had extensive consultation with the community throughout the planning process.

Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry said development approval was an important milestone for the Common Ground project.

“Common Ground Dickson will see 40 social and affordable homes with a mix of one, two and three bedroom units available to provide long-term housing for people facing chronic homelessness, focusing on supporting women and children, families and single parents, and older women—growing cohorts in need of assistance,” Ms Berry said.

“Common Ground is different from traditional homelessness support services because it locates safe and secure accommodation alongside vital supports and services that help tenants break from the cycle of homelessness, stay housed, improve their connections to health, education and employment, and to live independently,” she said.

Ms Berry said conditions of the development approval included measures to protect existing trees located adjacent to the site; additional bicycle parking spaces; adequate treatment of the Original Canberra Aerodrome site to the satisfaction of the ACT Heritage Council; and setbacks to fully comply with the Dickson Precinct Map and Code.

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