A ROCKBANK family is seeking to develop a parcel of land into community housing for the north-west’s most vulnerable families.
But Melton Council said such a development was unlikely, with a recently approved corridor plan indicating there were environmental constraints that meant the area was more suited to a regional park.
The ambitious plan is the vision of Mario Cachia, whose family owns a 25-hectare block within the western growth corridor on Neale Road, Caroline Springs.
Mr Cachia said he wanted to have 12.5 hectares rezoned for residential use and sell half of it to raise money for a community housing development.
Plans drawn up for Mr Cachia include more than 100 one- to three-bedroom townhouses.
“This isn’t a money-making scheme; it’s a humanity issue,” he said.
“There are families out here who can’t afford the cost of living. We want to target families who are just below the average rent threshold and charge them cheaper rent or [target] those who can’t afford to purchase a house . . . we want to sell it to them cheaper.”
Mr Cachia said if the plan was approved he would sell houses at $60,000-$100,000 less than their market value. He also plans to charge renters at least $100 less a week.
Building and maintenance work would be carried out by him, family members and other residents employed by him. “I want to create jobs for local tradesmen through the project, too, by cutting out the middleman.”
Mr Cachia said he had submitted a draft plan to the council earlier this month.
Melton’s planning services manager Bob Baggio said there were significant limitations as to how the property could be developed because of its zoning. “In this context, it is unlikely that council or the state government would support any amendment to the current controls prior to approval of the required precinct structure plan.”
Mr Wilson said the council had yet to receive a formal proposal.
