Zoe Moffatt
Lancefield Romsey Lions Club has rehoused the residents from 3 and 5 Noel Street ahead of a social housing development on the site.
Lions Club volunteer Ged McLaughlin said three of the five units in Lancefield were occupied and the residents have been moved into new housing.
“They were moved about a week ago to their new residences [and] they have then the offer to come back when the new homes are built,” he said.
“Three of the units were occupied [but] the other two units were not in a good condition.”
Mr McLaughlin reached out to Star Weekly after he read about concerns from the community over where the current residents would live during the development.
The three residents were moved into two vacant units in Romsey and one in Gisborne, Mr McLaughlin said.
“Wintringham Housing organised the professional movers to relocate the residents and Lions paid for it,” he said.
“[We have also] allocated $120,000 for a social worker when the homes are built.”
Resident Alfred Ellul lived in one of the Lancefield units for 18 years before moving to an available unit in Romsey.
“I went to the council [18 years ago], and told them I don’t have anywhere to live and [council got in touch with Lions],” he said.
Mr Ellul said he liked the unit in Romsey and did not find the move stressful.
“The people in charge organised everything,” he said.
“I put everything in boxes for them to move it.”
Mr Ellul said he might move back to Lancefield when the new units are built but it will depend on how long it takes.
“I’m just an old bloke trying to live my last few days as happy as I can be,” he said.
Mr McLaughlin said the Lions originally brought the land and then gifted it to Macedon Ranges council in the late 1980s.
The Lions decided to gift the land because its constitution said it could not own property, Mr McLaughlin said.
“We’re still involved and will continue to be.”
The social housing development has proposed 12 new single storey units to be constructed in Lancefield. Mr McLaughlin said five of these units will be under the regulation of the Lions as they built the original five units.
“Council, Wintringham and Lions all work together,’ Mr McLaughlin said.
