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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-27 Daily Xml
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The Hon. L. STEVENS (Little Para) (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Housing. Can the minister provide the house with the latest information regarding social housing construction in South Australia?

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: the leader just said I am soft in the head. I am offended. I would like it withdrawn.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:17): I thank the member for Little Para for her question. I am pleased to inform the house that the state government has received commonwealth approval to proceed with stage 2 of the Australian government's $42 billion Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

Our combined state government and federal government investments will see the largest level of social housing activity in South Australia in 20 years. Not only is this going to provide a boost in affordable rental housing and create more work for the construction industry, it is going to have a real impact on the lives of people in need of social housing.

Stage 2 of the stimulus plan will deliver approximately 1,100 new homes built across South Australia. The funding of about $350 million for stage 2 will construct homes for people with different housing needs to ensure we are catering to the diverse mix of social housing tenants—on top of this, $30 million to refurbish 500 existing homes to return them to stock and $50 million to build 250 homes in stage 1.

The new homes will consist of apartments, townhouses, stand-alone houses and housing that is accessible for those with a disability. Every one of the new builds means that another family is safe and secure, and we are already seeing a positive impact. Sixty of the stage 1 new homes are underway, and just last week I paid a visit to a Housing SA tenant, Susan, who after nine months of being homeless finally has a place to call home, thanks to one of the 500 homes being refurbished under the stimulus plan.

The northern suburbs house that we provided for Susan is just one of 150 upgrades that have already been completed. This refurbishment included a new bathroom and a new kitchen with stove and rangehood; the wooden floorboards were also sanded and polished, with new doors fitted throughout, and there is also a new carport, roller door and fencing. The house has been painted and the front garden has been landscaped. It was a thrill to meet Susan and see face to face the impact these initiatives are having for the people in this state.

There are many more South Australians just like Susan who will benefit from the stimulus plan. We will see housing built right across the state, with more than 25 per cent of homes being built in the country to support South Australians in regional areas. Under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, 75 per cent of the new homes must be finished by the end of December 2010 and the larger projects will be finished by the end of June 2012.

We are also keeping the environment in mind. The homes will have a six star energy rating and most will have rainwater tanks and solar hot water systems, creating sustainable and environmentally friendly living. But, most importantly, this federal-state investment is giving South Australians a place to call home. It is a privilege to work with a federal government that has a real commitment to support social housing.

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