Housing SA Tenancies

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (14:55): My question is again to the Minster for Social Housing. Can the minister detail the costs for the program to inform Housing SA residents about the safe disposal of rubbish and whether her department has any plans to roll out this program to other Housing SA sites?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:55): The issue that the member for Schubert is raising relates to a 66-unit multistorey flat group at Parkside known as Rosslyn Court. It was built in the 1960s and has some structural concerns. It has been earmarked for a future redevelopment opportunity via Renewal.

At the moment, Housing SA has provided new residents with short-term leases so that, when the decision to redevelop is confirmed, they can vacate the site in a reasonable time frame. Because they have fairly short leases, we have a very high turnover compared to normal units and it seems that these short-term leases have impacted on people apparently not providing the same conditions that we have seen in other areas. This has led to a problem with rubbish dumped in communal areas.

Housing SA has worked very closely with the local council to develop a strategy to reduce the dumping of rubbish at the site. This involves providing each unit with individual waste bins rather than communal bins which were previously shared among the residents. Housing SA has agreed to build new bin enclosures to store the bins securely so that outsiders would not have access to them. We have also partnered with KESAB in the project to provide residents with an education program about the separation of waste so that recycling can occur.

I think anyone who lives next to someone who does not take care of their house is a concern. Obviously Housing SA wants to work with their tenants to be clear—

Mr KNOLL: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Point of order!

Mr KNOLL: I have been listening to the minister's answer, but I was very specific about wanting to understand the cost of this program and whether or not this program is going to be rolled out to other sites.

The SPEAKER: Yes, okay. Minister.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Let me re-emphasise that this was a partnership between Housing SA, Unley council and KESAB. Until recently, the bins were mixed together and the cost of installing new individual bins is expected to be around $6,000. The strategy was very well received by residents. Obviously it was a concern of residents because the nature of the facility is that there are people living close together. Some people were doing the right things and other people were not and we had other people dumping rubbish there as well.

I understand from Housing SA that we believe that this strategy worked well, partnering together with council and with KESAB. If the situation arises in other areas where we have outsiders dumping rubbish and where the bins are not associated with individuals, I understand that we will be rolling out this program in those situations.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary, member for Schubert.