House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Answers to Questions Government Employee Housing GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE HOUSING In reply to Mr GRIFFITHS House of Assembly Goyder GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE HOUSING In reply to Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (28 June 2007) (Estimates Committee B). The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT House of Assembly Lee Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Finance Minister for Government Enterprises Minister for Recreation GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE HOUSING The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing): The performance indicators for government employee residential property management are shown in Budget Paper 4, volume 2, page 6.49, subprogram 8.5. Amongst these indicators is a target representing the estimated number of properties required from the private market. The figure is indicative of the extent to which the government's stock of owned properties must be supplemented to meet the demand from agencies for staff in regional areas. Also it meets additional need where vacant owned properties do not match the family needs of tenants. For these reasons properties are currently leased from the private market in around 60 locations throughout the state. The greater numbers are in Mount Gambier, Coober Pedy, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Port Lincoln and Port Augusta. It is difficult to be precise with the total number likely to be required during any year. The family composition of employees that accept positions in regional centres cannot be pre-determined. Some agency staff may already live locally or choose to purchase their own property rather than require government accommodation. Indication of future demand is that leased properties are most likely to be required in Whyalla, Port Augusta, Mount Gambier and Kangaroo Island. The exact numbers cannot be predicted for the reasons mentioned. This year the government has allocated significant additional funding for new housing to meet the anticipated growth in Roxby Downs resulting from the proposed Olympic Dam mine expansion.