Davenport Community

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:53): Sorry, sir, you took me by surprise. My question is to the Minister for Social Housing. Minister, what is the current status of Housing SA's investment within the Davenport community?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:53): I thank the member for Colton for his question. The Aboriginal community of Davenport is situated on Aboriginal Lands Trust land just north of Port Augusta. As a non-remote community, Davenport is eligible for housing investment to refurbish existing properties under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (NPARIH).

In June 2015 as Minister for Social Housing I executed an under-lease with Davenport, the Aboriginal Lands Trust and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, which has allowed Housing SA to invest in capital refurbishments and assume responsibility for both property and tenancy management in the community.

Last week I had the valuable opportunity to visit Davenport and meet the chair, Mr Malcolm McKenzie. I was very pleased to see firsthand the working partnership between the Davenport community and Housing SA. Together with the contracted builder this group is working to deliver improvements in the condition of properties and to provide high quality housing management and increased opportunities for economic participation by the residents of Davenport. Two Aboriginal residents from Port Augusta have been employed as a direct result of this investment. I also understand one contractor in Davenport is keen to engage a local Aboriginal apprentice.

I am encouraged by initiatives under development to establish work-for-the-dole activities within housing and community works later this year. Housing SA is working with the community development program provider and the community to identify specific projects. In particular, landscaping and streetscape improvements in Davenport will provide a significant community benefit and will equip more Davenport residents with skills and will connect people with local trades where there are long-term opportunities to move into jobs. Over the next two years, a total of 36 houses will be refurbished in Davenport to the value of $5.4 million, and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes this investment will have on the community over time.