Page 1819 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019
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Assembly the Probus Club of Canberra. Welcome to your Assembly. I hope you are enjoying your time here.
Questions without notice
Public housing—renewal program
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Minister, can you update the Assembly on the government’s plan to grow and renew public housing as part of the ACT housing strategy?
MS BERRY: Last October I launched the ACT housing strategy, which sets out the government’s actions for affordable housing over the next decade. One of the key pieces of this strategy is the $100 million commitment to continue the renewal of public housing and to support growth over the next five years. This week I released the new growing and renewing public housing 2019-24 plan that guides the $100 million investment and details how we will continue to better meet the needs of current and future public housing tenants.
This plan will support the work of the ACT housing strategy and its goal to strengthen social housing assistance by delivering safe and affordable housing to support vulnerable Canberrans. The $100 million investment will enable the government to add 200 homes to the portfolio and set in motion the sale and renewal of old public housing properties to generate around $500 million that will be reinvested into growing and renewing public housing stock.
Over the next five years, this government’s $600 million investment will deliver 1,200 new properties for public housing tenants, which includes the renewal of 1,000 properties and an extra 200 new homes for people on the housing register. This will increase our current public housing portfolio by 200 properties during the life of the plan. These are tangible results, supported by a long-term and viable growth and renewal plan.
MS ORR: Minister, how will this new program build on the current public housing renewal program?
MS BERRY: Four years ago the government committed to the largest renewal of public housing in our history with the replacement of 1,288 public housing dwellings. While the ACT has the highest ratio of public housing per capita of any jurisdiction in Australia, on average we also have some of the oldest. The housing that was renewed and replaced roof for roof had reached the end of its useful life. The buildings had little energy efficiency, did not properly match the needs of public housing tenants and were not adaptable for older tenants or people with a disability.
The program has enabled a better alignment of our public housing portfolio with tenant needs and size. Over the life of the program approximately 1,400 people have moved into new homes. I have heard many stories directly from tenants who have moved into their new homes about the significant improvement it has made to their lives and overall welling. The program has empowered tenants to take advantage of new opportunities and move into homes that better suit their individual needs.
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