Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM
A recent article in the Forbes Phoenix regarding social housing in the new Goldridge Estate has Forbes Shire Mayor outraged.
“I’m very disappointed in the Forbes Phoenix in relation to the social housing article printed in last week’s paper,” said Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.
“The new Goldridge Estate has 223 housing blocks, not 400 and there is a caveat on the land that does not allow social housing. What it does allow however is the freeing up of housing within town for the State Government to invest in social housing.
“Social housing is not a local government issue. We can only lobby our State and Federal Governments to consider implementing more social housing for our region.
“I have chaired the Parkes/Forbes Community Housing Inc. tenancy scheme for 10 years in the past, and Councillor Graeme Miller has been a board member for over 10 years and still remains on the board today.
“We govern for all residents with complete social inclusion contrary to their resistance. Social housing has been neglected for many years and we have made representation to improve our situation in the Forbes Shire.
“Recently we have been working with CatholicCare Wilcania/Forbes and Generocity Church to provide facilities for the homeless for them to access kitchen facilities, bathroom and laundry services. We met with them only last week to finalise the details.
“Without industry, jobs and population growth we leave ourselves vulnerable to service losses and we definitely don’t want that,” Phyllis said.