- Record $2.6 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures delivers milestone
- Cook Government driving major reforms to accelerate delivery of social housing
The Cook Government has reached a key housing reform delivery milestone, with more than 2,000 social homes added to the State’s public housing stock since its record $2.6 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures.
In the face of a heated construction market, the Government established a number of alternative and flexible housing reform programs that have bolstered the supply of social housing across Western Australia, including:
- a statewide small and medium builders panel which includes builders across the State that are pre-approved for government work to further support social housing delivery;
- utilising alternative construction methods including timber and steel frame, modular and prefabricated construction;
- boosting the State’s highly successful spot purchasing program;
- providing more than $150 million in grants to the Community Housing Sector to deliver new builds and to refurbish existing homes to keep existing stock in the system and fit-for-purpose;
- driving nation-leading planning reforms that cut red-tape to boost housing supply throughout WA; and
- boosting and establishing the Call for Submissions processes, including a $50 million Call for Submissions from Community Housing Providers to refurbish or deliver new housing options managed by the sector for vulnerable people.
The Cook Government is investing a record $2.6 billion over four years in housing and homelessness services, and has committed to the delivery of around 4,000 social dwellings along with refurbishments and maintenance work to many thousands more.
Comments attributed to Housing Minister John Carey:
“The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent heated construction market have radically reshaped housing markets across the country.
“This is why we’re getting on with delivering a record $2.6 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures.
“Since our Government’s record investment in housing and homelessness measures we’ve added more than 2,000 social homes, with more than 1,000 social homes currently under contract or construction.
“We’re also working to retain ageing social housing properties and investing in alternative construction methods including modular and timber frame to increase social housing across the State.”
