Bunbury council approves development of new, short term youth accommodation, run by Accordwest

As approved at the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on August 31, housing provider Accordwest will operate housing for a maximum of ten occupants at Lot 26, Forrest Avenue in South Bunbury.

Accordwest is an organisation that delivers a range of services throughout the South West including accommodation support for the vulnerable and those at risk within the community.

The new accommodation will operate in conjunction with the existing, 'Bunyup House' accommodation at Lot 27, Forrest Avenue.

Councilor Kris Plumb moved the motion and encouraged fellow Bunbury councilors to support the development proposal.

"Tonight, we're just talking about housing young people. I feel concerned that our history has been to get hung up on small matters, but these are not equal to putting a roof over peoples heads," Cr Plumb said.

"Youth at risk is an area I work in and I know many of you have your own kids, grandkids or are engaged with the next generation in some way or another."

Accordwest chief executive officer Evan Nunn said in reports from Shelter Western Australia and All Paths Lead to a Home, around 25 per cent of all homeless in Western Australia were youth.

"Accordwest was originally founded as youth accommodation, so we will focus on that. We're circling back to this point in time saying we need to expand this existing housing on Lot 27 because there's a need to house the youth," Mr Nunn said.

"The development will include both additional youth accommodation and an expansion of the multi function, client service centre. Bunbury's youth are the most vulnerable and at risk of homelessness right now, which could be due to the increasing price of Bunbury rentals, paired with lower income."

The development application was brought to council for approval after public advertising resulted in nine submissions of objection.

The submissions were from neighbouring landowners with common concerns of the new accommodation causing an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area.

See more:

In regards to the objections, residents noted a perceived lack of privacy, noise, 'undesirable' behaviour and a decrease in the areas property values.

Mr Nunn said Accordwest would continue to be vigilant with addressing the issues raised by increasing security and surveillance at the accommodation, as well as revising the current tenancy rules to ensure those who break the current ruling would be breached.

He also said Accordwest would continue to work with the community over the next two years of consctruction, to ensure all parties were satisfied with the new accommodation.

"We gave surrounding residents the opportunity to speak with us in June and we were very open and transparent. We gave them the opportunity to share their thoughts to us so we could arrange our outlook accordingly. And that's what we did."

The motion to approve the new, short term accommodation was carried unanimously at council.

"Whilst I acknowledge and validate the concerns that may pop up tonight, I don't see how anything could weigh equal to putting a roof over the heads of young people at risk," Cr Plumb said.