INNER CITY HOUSING

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Housing. Can the minister please advise the house of recent developments regarding the government's new apartment complex in Waymouth Street?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:23): I am very pleased to be able to update the house on this exciting joint federal and state government housing initiative in Waymouth Street. In December last year cabinet approval was given for the development of an approximately $50 million, 16 level, 138-unit apartment building behind the Queens Theatre, to be known as the UNO Apartments. This exciting project, South Australia's first truly integrated apartment community, will begin construction next month and will be completed by March 2012.

Today I am pleased to report that there is already quite an air of excitement about the project. It will deliver a six-star energy rating and locate residents close to transport, education, employment and other services. The building includes: supported high-needs youth accommodation, social housing, affordable rental and affordable purchase and general market purchase apartments. The market sales began on 22 March and already sales have exceeded the $10 million point. As at 11 June, 37 of the 54 apartments on offer for sale from the plan have been sold. The sales are comprised of 23 affordable apartments and 14 general market sales. In total, this equates to $10.722 million or 45 per cent of the residential sales target of $23.8 million.

In less than three months more than half of the apartments on offer have been sold. This is a massive vote of confidence from private buyers in this government's vision for socially inclusive communities. Achieving 37 apartment pre-sales so far is an encouraging result and one that demonstrates that there is real public interest in this form of building and nothing like the level of public resistance and price impacts forecast by some sceptics.

The sales performance demonstrates the public acceptance of integrated community developments, and Housing SA will continue to promote the success of the sales program to the broader development industry to encourage the development of more socially integrated communities in future projects.

Our UNO Apartments are being funded through the Nation Building-Economic Stimulus package, and proceeds from the sales will be used to build a second phase of social housing in the city, with a third phase then funded from those market sales. In total, this will deliver 121 homes for South Australians on top of 138 Waymouth Street.

The progress of this project is a great demonstration of this government's commitment to innovation, social inclusion and financial viability. The UNO Apartments are an example that I have no doubt will be followed by other states. We are incredibly grateful for the support that has been provided by the Rudd Labor government for this project, which has drawn great praise from the federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, and for their real support for the provision of social housing here in South Australia. I very much look forward to updating the house further on the progress of this development.