Page 1165 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
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MS BERRY: I thank Ms Cody for her question. The end of the current public housing renewal program is near. It is replacing 1,288 of our oldest public housing properties with new, accessible, energy efficient homes.
Last week I handed over the thousandth home that has been delivered under this program in a great new complex in Monash. The complex is a great example of where government and the local community have come together, with representatives from the local C3 church and Woden Community Service working with Housing ACT to support tenants and create a welcoming environment for tenants in their neighbourhood. It is always great to see these new homes and witness the beginnings of these new communities take shape.
The renewal program has delivered new public housing in more than 20 suburbs across Canberra, enabling public housing to be spread throughout the city and giving tenants a greater choice in where they live. The new properties better align with the needs of tenants, improving energy efficiency as well as helping reduce energy and living costs. Over the life of the program, over 1,400 people have moved into their new homes, with tenants receiving additional supports before and after their move.
Housing ACT will continue to work with tenants to identify new homes that best suit their needs and location and housing preferences. Some 1,032 properties have now been completed, with the remaining 256 homes on track to be delivered by the middle of the year.
MS CODY: Minister, how has the delivery of these new homes impacted the lives of public housing tenants?
MS BERRY: Throughout this entire program I have been constantly amazed at the changes that new homes are making to tenants’ lives. This program is extending the benefits of modern homes to tenants who have lived in older houses that do not necessarily suit their needs. All the new dwellings are constructed to meet class C adaptable or liveable gold standards, thus increasing the amount of public housing that enables older tenants to age in place as well as being better suited for people who are living with a disability.
Each new home is built to a six-star energy rating, taking advantage of natural sunlight and ventilation, with energy-efficient appliances. These energy-efficient homes will be cheaper to run and easier to maintain and will reduce tenants’ energy bills. Many tenants continue to share stories with me of moving into their new homes and it has overwhelmingly been a positive experience.
Many of them have taken advantage of their new surroundings by building new gardens and connections, visiting family and friends in a changing lifestyle that means that their homes and lives are easier to manage. The public housing renewal program has renewed around 11 per cent of public housing over the past five years. These new homes have improved the lives of many public housing tenants across the ACT.
MS ORR: Minister, what other investments is the government making in public housing?
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