Putting home ownership in reach of those who may otherwise never afford it is front and centre at this Thursday evening’s public Community Conversation event in Castlemaine.
The conversation is set for 6pm in The Tap Room at The Mill and will primarily focus on the internationally successful Land Trust model as a way to decouple the expense of land from the cost of buying a house.
Featuring a lineup of guest speakers, Thursday evening’s conversation is being presented by Mount Alexander Community Land Limited, a not-for-profit organisation and one of the few land trust entities in Australia.
“Our keynote speaker is Derek Mortimer who is a not-for-profit lawyer and Community Land Trust specialist,” says MACLL chair Doug Falconer who, with partner Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns, owns Castlemaine’s Shedshaker brewery and The Taproom venue.
“We’ll also have other guest speakers with expertise in social and public housing and also in private development approaches to housing affordability.”
Doug says the not-for-profit Land Trust model has proven successful abroad and he is a firm believer that it’s only a matter of time before the model gains a foothold here as part of the housing affordability equation.
“Land Trusts are very successful in the US, Britain, Canada and Europe but they have so far not had the same success in Australia because of our unique land legal system,” he says.
“We think it’s only a matter of time before the authorities will recognise the value of the model and give it support.
“It’s a great model and why wouldn’t you want to help people own a home.”
Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns is secretary of MACLL and says there are several local property owners open to incorporating the model on their land.
“And we are keen to inspire others to consider this approach,” she says.
“Given the continuing increase in housing prices coupled with the ongoing migration of people from other parts of the country into our region, housing affordability is at a crisis point.
“There are a lot of local initiatives bring pursued to tackle housing in a myriad of ways, from tiny house projects to respite accommodation alongside increased state funding for public and social housing.”
Doug says those interested are welcome to simply attend at the venue on Thursday from 6pm or can contact the local land trust organisation at info@MACLL.org.au
