Construction will soon be completed on a new $2.9 million social housing complex in Tanah Merah, delivering homes for at least nine Queenslanders.
Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch today inspected the new complex, which is due to welcome its first tenants next month. This project further demonstrates the Palaszczuk Governments commitment to delivering better services for Queenslanders.
Since coming to Government in 2015 the Palaszczuk Government has delivered 3923 social homes. Once finished this unit block will be one of the properties that helps propel us past 4000 completions.
“This new social housing complex will feature nine one-bedroom units, some of which have been specially designed to make them suitable for people with disability and older tenants,” Ms Enoch said.
“Of these units, two are built to Platinum standard under Livable Housing Design, which are suitable for people who mobilise in wheelchairs and two will be built to Gold standard with features such as wider hallways and doors for older people and people with impaired mobility.
“Not only will these social housing units provide a boost to social housing stock in the local area, they are also providing a boost to the local economy, supporting approximately 10 full-time equivalent jobs during construction.
“I’m pleased to announce today that as of 31 July, we have commenced over 900 new social and affordable homes under our Quickstarts Queensland program.”
The Palaszczuk Government’s $2.9 million funding for this social housing complex, forms part of the Housing and Construction Jobs Program (HCJP) – a key part of the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017 – 2027 – which has supported more than 3000 construction jobs since 2017.
Ms Enoch said that this program forms part of the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025.
“This Action Plan will boost housing supply and increase housing and homelessness supports across the state,” she said.
“Through the Palaszczuk Government’s Action Plan, we are investing $2.9 billion over four years to support better long-term housing outcomes and move more vulnerable Queenslanders into safe, secure and affordable housing, sooner,” Ms Enoch said.
“This is the largest concentrated investment in social and affordable housing in Queensland’s history.
“The returns on that investment will be sued to fund social housing construction for years to come.”
Ms Enoch said the Queensland Housing Investment Growth Initiative (QHIGI) is an important element of our Action Plan and will deliver an accelerated social housing supply of 7,400 homes over four years, of which 178 will be commenced in the Logan area through a planned investment of $46.7 million over the next four years.
“This will support more than 147 full-time equivalent construction jobs.
“This in addition to the 361 new social homes already commenced in the Logan area under the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027.”
Attorney-General and Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman said this new unit complex will help ease pressure on affordability for residents in her electorate.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to doing everything we can to ensure families not just in Waterford but across the state have a safe and secure place to call home.”
Ms Enoch said the Queensland Government was also investing in other programs to help provide housing for Queenslanders, including the recently launched Help to Home.
“Not only are we building new social and affordable housing, we’re also delivering programs to help Queenslanders secure and sustain tenancies,” she said.
“This includes our Help to Home program, through which we will headlease up to 1000 homes over two years to help people on our social housing register to secure safe and affordable housing.
“In June we also announced an Immediate Housing Response for Families package, backed by a $16 million investment in services and support to help Queensland families to secure or sustain housing.
“This includes $7 million additional funding for our existing Rental Security Subsidy to assist up to 700 families and an additional $3 million toward extra support workers in funded specialist homelessness services to assist families.”
