New housing unveiled for Albany
- 12 x 2-bedroom dwellings for eligible seniors and people with disabilities
- Provides further affordable rental accommodation in Albany
New affordable housing has been unveiled in Albany with the completion of 12 two-bedroom rental properties for seniors and people with disabilities.
Housing Minister Bill Marmion said the new dwellings, built and managed by Great Southern Community Housing Association (GSCHA), would meet growing demand as more retirees moved to the region.
“The construction of 12 units in Mira Mar has been widely anticipated as a positive step in delivering more affordable housing in Albany,” Mr Marmion said.
“It’s another successful community housing project for the GSCHA, which delivered seven dwellings in McKail in June 2013.”
Mr Marmion said the GSCHA is a growth provider under the Department of Housing’s community housing growth strategy.
“In 2011, State Cabinet endorsed growth strategies for community housing organisations through the Affordable Housing Strategy. The key element is the transfer of housing assets to the community housing sector to enable them to grow their businesses and leverage assets to increase the supply of social and affordable housing stock,” he said.
“To date, 82 housing assets have been transferred to GSCHA, which has allowed the organisation to deliver 19 units of affordable accommodation.
“This is a great example of the State Government building the capacity of not-for-profit organisations to increase the supply of affordable housing in Western Australia.”
GSCHA awarded the building contract for the newly opened dwellings to WA Country Builders in 2012. They were completed on January 8, 2014 at a total cost of $3.6million.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said Royalties for Regions provided $1.88million for the construction of the dwellings, with GSCHA funding the balance.
“This project was funded under the Regional Development Council’s Action Agenda as one of the Royalties for Regions Aged Care and Community Health projects,” Mr Redman said.
“With strong demand for affordable two-bedroom homes in the region, it is great to see the completion of this community housing project in Albany.
“The units are ideally situated less than 15 minutes walk from the town centre, close to public transport, shopping, medical and community facilities.
“A clever, energy-efficient design will help to keep utility bills down, as well as quantum hot water units, solar power and inverter air conditioners in each dwelling.
“Hobless showers, improved wheelchair access and reinforced bathroom walls for the installation of hand rail will provide an improved quality of life for the tenants.”
Fact File
- The community housing complex is located at 22 Cockburn Road, Mira Mar, Albany and caters to eligible seniors over 55 and people with disabilities
- GSCHA completed seven growth properties at 18 Trio Crescent, McKail in June 2013
- At December 31, 2013, the Department of Housing had transferred 1,587 public housing assets to community housing organisations
- Under the community housing growth strategy, eight community housing organisations have committed to a combined growth target of 512 housing units over the next 10 years
- GSCHA is one of the department’s Growth Community Housing Providers and manages a total stock of 305 properties in the Great Southern region. The Department asset transferred 82 properties to GSCHA in 2011-12: 73 in Albany and 9 in Denmark
- $1.88million was allocated under the Royalties for Regions-funded Regional Development Council Action Agenda Funding Scheme