Page 223 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 6 March 2007
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In relation to private rental, the aim is to support the effective operation of the private rental market to ensure a balance between supply and demand, with the availability of a range of accommodation options to suit varying income levels and individual needs. Key initiatives the steering group is examining include testing the market for institutional investors and developing and renting, say, 200 or maybe up to 400 private rental dwellings.
In relation to community and not-for-profit housing, the aim is to support the community housing sector to enable it to grow and to meet the accommodation needs of Canberrans, particularly those who do not meet the income criteria for public housing. The primary objective is to enhance the capacity of the community sector to deliver innovative affordable housing solutions and ensure the supply of land to enable community providers to meet future client needs.
In relation to aged accommodation, the government will continue to identify development sites throughout Canberra for a mix of housing developments that enhance the provision of affordable aged housing. The steering group is also examining measures to support the transition of older people to accommodation more suited to their needs.
In relation to both public housing and supported accommodation, the steering group is seeking to continue the reforms announced or initiated in the 2006-07 budget, most particularly those aimed at increasing stock numbers in public housing; better matching stock and tenant need; and improving the efficiency of the supported accommodation sector whilst maintaining service levels. This will include housing top-priority Housing ACT applicants within three months; restructuring the stock to ensure a better mix of properties, such as two-bedroom dwellings; and providing incentives to encourage tenancy-to-home ownership.
The supported accommodation reforms will also continue, with the expansion of the transitional housing program, expanding the stairwell models of support and expanding eviction prevention programs. The government will appoint a cross-government team for implementation and detailed monitoring, particularly in relation to land release targets, the status of the pipeline and compliance with the pipeline with the pipeline strategy and the diversity of the product on the market.
Earlier I mentioned the government’s land supply strategy. The importance of this measure cannot be underestimated. The strategy is guided by the key principle that land supply should promote economical and social development to achieve optimal benefits for the community from the government’s landholdings; provide an appropriate choice of land and housing options; and assist in the provision of affordable housing.
Importantly, the strategy provides for the release of sufficient sites to meet a demand for around 2,800 sites in 2006-07 and between 11,000 and 14,000 sites over the next five years. The government will retain flexibility in adjusting supply in any given year, while ensuring the level of supply is sufficient to contribute positively to the provision of affordable housing. The release of this additional land will play a key role in addressing any unmet demand in the ACT housing market and will help ease the
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