Housing authorities say it is all part of a revamp of outdated and rundown stock.

But The Border Mail found 17 vacant blocks near the Wodonga Senior Secondary College, where houses were demolished early last year.

That land alone is valued at more than $3 million.

The Department of Human Services says it had 472 applications, individuals and families, on the housing waiting list at the end of September.

It has admitted the vacant blocks are part of its social housing stock that will be built on by the end of next year.

The department says a total of 28 vacant blocks, including the 17 identified by The Border Mail, are due to be built on as part of the Commonwealth-State Nation Building and Jobs initiative.

It is understood the previous ageing homes were proving too costly to maintain.

Several of the vacant lots are adjacent to one another.

Recent public housing in the area has focused on villa and townhouse developments on double blocks.

Department of Human Services spokesman Brendan Ryan said the land would be used for smaller family houses, which better match the existing demand.

“The land in question will be used for social housing, through the Commonwealth-State Nation Building and Jobs initiative,” he said.

“It’s estimated construction of the new homes will be finished by December next year.

“These new homes will provide more accommodation for people on the waiting list, with the latest environmentally friendly features.

“It will also increase the amount of social housing in the area through a better use of the land.

“There may have been delays rebuilding on some properties, caused by the need to wait for tenants to move out of adjacent buildings before they could be demolished.”

Member for Benambra Bill Tilley said he had been approached by

people concerned with the vacant blocks.

“But we understand this is all part of the asset renewal program and homes will be built there in the near future,” he said.

“It is critical that Wodonga maintains its public housing stock, we can’t afford to lose any of these homes.”

Mr Ryan said there were 1154 properties owned by the Office of Housing in Wodonga.

He said the total number of applications in the Wodonga area on the housing waiting list for the September quarter was 472 — down from 518 applications in the June quarter this year.