A redevelopment in Delacombe remains largely unbuilt almost three years after social housing residents were moved off the land, with locals questioning why the site was cleared before construction was ready to begin.
What happened? In 2018, the Victorian Labor Government announced a redevelopment in Leawarra Crescent, with plans to demolish preexisting housing to make way for 118 social houses and 64 “affordable rentals”.
The development promised townhouses, detached, and semi-detached homes. It will contain a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties with 5% designed to be fully accessible for those living with disabilities.
What they said: Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison blamed the lengthy wait on the extent of the works.
“The things we’re doing with this transformation of Leawarra Crescent are fundamentally changing the whole estate,” she told the Brolga.
“There was an inquiry into housing in the regions… There’s plenty of 3 or 4 bedroom houses, but not that many apartments, not many townhouses. You often have people living in these homes that are too big for them and cost a lot to heat.”
What about the residents? Before demolition of the previous homes, the residents had to be relocated.
Sixty-six were moved to nearby housing, and Addison said all residents have been offered the opportunity to move back into the neighbourhood once revitalisation works are complete.
Why the hold-up? Locals in the area have watched the construction lot sit empty and have questioned the timeline.
Bruce Crawford, the president of the Ballarat Ratepayers Association (BRA), said it “just seems to be poor management”.
“Why on Earth would you knock over houses when someone could have been living in those places?” he told the Brolga, adding “it’s something Ballarat would be chasing with an election coming up”.
Robert Goon, BRA’s vice president, lives opposite the housing project and said he “has a first hand look at what does and doesn’t go on” .
“There are no new roads, no new footpaths, just empty house lots with dirt,” he told the Brolga. “Locals drive past them everyday”.
"The place has sat deserted right up to late 2024. 2025 saw work on one house. A timber fence was put up then nothing else happened until now.”
He added that “bad conditions don’t just happen, they are ignored and left to fester”.
“The community initially were all praise, but some houses were the family home of longer-term residents. These government agencies really dropped the ball with scrutiny of tenants and ongoing maintenance.”
Word from leaders: Addison acknowledged the project had taken longer than expected.
🗣️”It’s not just about knocking down houses that aren’t fit for purpose, but what would a modern community feel like? That’s why it’s been so significant, it’s road work as well,” she said. “It’s upgraded open spaces and improved connectivity,"
The project involves three separate builders split over three separate projects, with a goal of creating a community for a diverse range of Victorians.
“That could be a family with six kids, it could be an older woman at risk of homelessness, or a woman escaping family violence,” she said. “This redevelopment is not just about bricks and mortar, it is about dignity, opportunity and community”.
Chris Meagher, the Victorian Socialists candidate for Wendouree, said there is a “chronic need” for public housing in Ballarat and “demolishing the existing ones only to leave the site empty for 5 years is criminal”.
“They evicted the tenants in 2023 but did not have completed plans to share with the community for feedback until 2025. Why would Labor kick people out of their homes before planning was completed?”