Inner Melbourne Community Legal said it had been told Homes Victoria confirmed its intention to proceed with the demolition and would sign a contract for works to start on or after Friday.
The service's managing lawyer, Louisa Bassini, said on Thursday it came after Victoria's Supreme Court ordered that the class action could proceed to a two-day trial.
Public housing class action to proceed to trial in October — Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL) (@IMelbCL) https://t.co/ouwXHbSqnA #vicpol #SpringSt #housing #housingcrisisJuly 17, 2024
"Homes Victoria's intention to enter a contract for demolition by the end of this week demonstrates a lack of regard for the arguments residents are putting to the court," she said.
"Public housing residents have been treated as an afterthought in the government's plans.
"The determination to proceed with demolition contrasts with Homes Victoria's lack of transparency about what their plans are for the estates or commitment to rebuild public housing."
The three towers at the centre of the class action are on Alfred Street and Racecourse Road in North Melbourne and Holland Street in Flemington.
Ms Bassini said Homes Victoria failed to ensure that residents who are being relocated have legally enforceable rights and protections.
"Families in public housing estates are feeling pressured to leave their homes with no certainty of what they are moving into and whether they will be able to return to public housing and the communities they depend on," she said.
Lawyer Louisa Bassini (right) says public housing residents are being treated as an afterthought. (Cassandra Morgan/AAP PHOTOS)
The Victorian Greens took aim at the state government for continuing with the demolitions despite some residents remaining on site.
"Since this project was announced, I've had hundreds of conversations with residents who are angry, heartbroken and want answers," Greens MP Samantha Ratnam said.
"Labor fast-tracking this project while a class action is underway and residents remain in the buildings demonstrates a complete disregard for the rights and welfare of the residents."
All 44 of Melbourne's high-rise public housing are set to be redeveloped by 2051, with five in Flemington, North Melbourne and Carlton expected to be replaced by 2031.
The project was a key pillar of the government's housing statement unveiled by then-premier Daniel Andrews in September and would lead to the relocation of more than 10,000 residents.
Victorian minister Mary-Anne Thomas says the towers are reaching the end of their lifespan. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
Senior Victorian minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the government had been up front that the towers were reaching the end of their lifespan.
"It's appropriate that we provide those people that rely on public housing with safe, modern, contemporary, energy-efficient housing," she told reporters.
"We've got a program to build that replacement housing ... and we're getting on delivering it."
A Homes Victoria spokeswoman said the towers' demolitions were part of a plan to increase social housing across the state by more than 10 per cent.
"The towers fail against noise, sustainability, waste and recycling, room depth, ventilation, fire, resistance to extreme heat events, seismic activity, access to private open space, disability and accessibility and minimum amenity standards," she said.
Homes Victoria declined to comment further as the matter was still before the courts.
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