Page 3213 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 18 August 2009
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The government are justifiably proud of the strides we have taken and the change that we have engendered in relation to housing affordability in the ACT. In relation to land supply, and accelerated land supply, 3,470 dwelling sites were released in 2007-08 and a further 4,309 sites were released in 2008-09. That is just on 8,000 sites over two years, and in this last financial year, in 2008-09, at 4,339 sites, it was the single greatest number of sites released in any year since self-government. It is a sign of the continuing strength of the economy.
Land supply, of course, is fundamental to our capacity to meet the housing needs of all Canberrans. A significant aspect of that release of just on 8,000 sites over the last two years is the mandated 15 per cent of all new greenfield estates being required to be devoted to house and land packages priced at under $300,000. So in two years, with 8,000 blocks released in greenfield sites, and with a government directive or requirement that 15 per cent of all greenfield developments or estates be devoted to affordable housing—that is, houses under $300,000—one can quickly grasp the significant impact that that particular policy, by itself, is having on affordability.
Indeed, I recently met with the board of the Village Building Company, and Mr Bob Winnel, at that meeting, indicated—and I think we are all aware of this—that just in 12 months, in west Macgregor, the Village Building Company had been able to produce in the order of 500 houses sold and built for under, I think it was, $350,000. That is an outstanding effort by Village Building Company and a testament to the ACT government’s land supply policies and its housing affordability policies, particularly in relation to that 15 per cent requirement.
It is also relevant that we have entered into a historic partnership with CHC Affordable Housing. Members are aware, and have been aware for some time, that, in partnership with CHC Housing—a partnership engendered on our part by a direct grant of $40 million worth of assets to CHC Affordable Housing and the provision of a $50 million revolving loan facility to CHC Housing—we have asked of them that they produce just on 1,000 houses over the next 10 years, with 500 to be within the affordable rental range and 500 to be affordable houses for sale.
It has taken CHC Affordable Housing, admittedly, some little time to get rolling, but they have now hit the road and are cracking along at some pace. Just two to three weeks ago, I, with the member for Canberra, Annette Ellis, turned the sod on a significant CHC development in Forde, and a development that is consistent with the ACT’s new partnership with the commonwealth in relation to homelessness and affordability. Just last week, with the federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, we opened an eight-unit development in Holt, built and managed by CHC Affordable Housing. CHC Affordable Housing are well on the way to delivering on the 1,000 rental and for sale units of accommodation that they have undertaken to deliver over the next 10 years. I think that is a stunning commitment by CHC Affordable Housing to deliver that level of housing for rental and for sale at affordable levels across Canberra each year, year on year, over the next 10 years.
There is also very significant progress being made on the government’s other affordable housing arrangements. The shared equity scheme for public housing is at the point now of final consideration of tenders through an open expression of interest
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