Page 481 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 10 February 2009
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of projects in the pipeline which will meet the very tight timeframes set by the commonwealth. These include projects that have development applications approved and land purchases for which development can be expedited.
For example, Housing ACT has recently received development approval to construct 10 aged persons units near the Canberra Hospital. Design has commenced on two further sites to construct over 50 older persons accommodation. In addition, Housing ACT has also recently undertaken some strategic property purchases where two properties can be amalgamated to enable 12 units to be constructed.
The ACT is also well placed to utilise the maintenance dollars to be provided by the commonwealth and, as I have already mentioned, some $6 million will be available, which can be used for maintenance of 140 properties. As with the construction of new dwellings, the ACT already has maintenance works within existing maintenance contracts which can be expanded. These include upgrades to existing properties to bring them up to current housing and environmental standards, upgrading three smaller multiunit properties as an alternative to redevelopment and the extension of some properties to better match demand.
The stimulus package for social housing builds on the funds made available to the ACT under the recently agreed national affordable housing agreement and the associated national partnership payments for homelessness and social housing.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Burch, a supplementary question?
MS BURCH: Minister, can you outline how the new package will assist the most disadvantaged in the community?
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, and I thank Ms Burch for the supplementary.
Following along and giving some more background, these agreements that I have just mentioned commit the government to pursue reforms in the housing sector, many of which are already in place in the ACT, including measures being implemented by the affordable housing action plan, redevelopment of multi-unit properties to achieve better social outcomes, maintenance and expansion of social housing stock and significant reforms under the ACT homelessness strategy.
Housing, as we know, is one of the most important social policy challenges facing governments across Australia.
Mrs Dunne: That is why you care so much about it, Johnno!
MR HARGREAVES: It requires national leadership, something foreign to—what is your name? I forgot, sorry. Nowhere is this national leadership, which we now have—we now have national leadership; we did not have it before—more evident than in the $42 billion economic stimulus package announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Rudd.
Opposition members interjecting—
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