MPs Alison Byrnes and Ryan Park, along with Housing Trust Chair Roy Rogers, Chief Operating Officer Amanda Winks, Wollongong MP Paul Scully, Trust CEO Michele Adair and Wollongong Deputy Mayor Tania Brown turn the first sod on the new Warruya development in Wollongong. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Construction has begun on 27 new homes in the heart of Wollongong, with almost a third to be prioritised for older women at risk of homelessness and women with children impacted by domestic violence.
The building will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with an additional 12 to be dedicated for social housing.
Housing Trust CEO Michele Adair said the organisation was delighted work had begun, but called on the NSW Government to provide more support so the remaining seven apartments could be offered as affordable housing.
“The Illawarra continues to feel the full force of the housing crisis,” she said.
“In the Wollongong local government areas alone, there are 2000 individuals, couples, and families on the social housing waitlist, with thousands more living in housing stress.”
One of those women is Krystal (name changed for privacy).
Krystal moved to the regions for work but had to return to Wollongong due to unforeseen circumstances.
Aged in her 60s, Krystal now spends the majority of her income keeping a roof over her head in the private rental market.
“It’s not living; it’s just existing,” she said.
“You can’t go out to get coffee or lunch with a friend; you restrict how much you drive your car because of the cost of petrol.
“It’s no way to live year in, year out. We are social beings, and the stress of it makes people sick.
“I’m a senior citizen, on my own; everything goes into rent. If you’re not in a two-income family, how are you supposed to afford rent?
“I’m lucky – there are people out there who end up in the car.
“Projects like this are so important for people from all walks of life.”
Housing Trust Chief Operating Officer Amanda Winks said that following consultation with members and elders of the local Aboriginal community the project was named “Warruya,” a Dharawal word meaning aunty.
“This speaks to the respect and importance of older women, aunties as carers and healers,” she said.
“It also links to the beautiful location in the heart of Wollongong’s health precinct with stunning views of Geera, also known as the grandmother mountain.”
Uncle Richard Campbell performed the Welcome to Country at the sod-turning event on Friday (28 June) and called on politicians and decision-makers to keep in mind how difficult life is becoming for many in our community.
“We need to have a mutual respect and understanding,” he said.
“We don’t all have to like each other but we do need to be able to come together to support the people in our community who need it.
“It’s a difficult time for a lot of families right now.”
Funds from the Commonwealth Government’s Building Better Regional Cities program and the NSW State Government Community Housing Innovation Fund, along with a substantial capital investment from the Housing Trust have made the Warruya development possible.
Wollongong City Council has also provided support for the project.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Wollongong MP Paul Scully said housing was a key driver of inequality and as the housing crisis deepened, communities were becoming more divided.
He said the NSW Government was committed to speeding up the process of getting affordable and social housing projects off the ground.
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