❓ Hon Steve Martin asks about social housing spot purchases in the Pilbara since 2017. The Minister clarifies the program began in 2021/22 and provides completion numbers for the Pilbara region for the past two financial years.
AnsweredQoN 1489Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the social housing spot purchase program, and I ask, will the Minister please provide the total number of spot purchases by financial year within the Pilbara from either July 2017 to date or, the beginning of the program to date?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 August 2023
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
6 days
The dedicated spot purchasing program began in 2021/22. Spot purchasing is just one part of the State Government’s record $2.6 billion investment in social housing and homelessness measures across WA, including delivering 4,000 social homes to the system. The State Government will continue to accelerate social housing delivery, including through initiatives such modular, pre-fabricated, and timber frame builds, expansion of the State-wide builder panels, and spot purchasing.
The Department of Communities is consistently assessing properties that may be suitable for spot purchase. Spot purchasing is not always appropriate in regions where there is a lack of suitable houses due to the age of stock, or maintenance requirements such as dwellings built with asbestos. The Pilbara region is one such region affected by a lack of suitable purchasable stock.
In the post-COVID context – responding to changing conditions and challenges faced in the construction market, including cost escalations for construction, the State Government made a proactive decision to formally fund a dedicated Spot Purchase Program. The below table reflects successful delivery of social housing following the establishment of this Program.
Region
Financial Year
Spot Purchase Program Completions
Pilbara
2021-22
16
2022-23
18
The Department of Communities is consistently assessing properties that may be suitable for spot purchase. Spot purchasing is not always appropriate in regions where there is a lack of suitable houses due to the age of stock, or maintenance requirements such as dwellings built with asbestos. The Pilbara region is one such region affected by a lack of suitable purchasable stock.
In the post-COVID context – responding to changing conditions and challenges faced in the construction market, including cost escalations for construction, the State Government made a proactive decision to formally fund a dedicated Spot Purchase Program. The below table reflects successful delivery of social housing following the establishment of this Program.
Region
Financial Year
Spot Purchase Program Completions
Pilbara
2021-22
16
2022-23
18
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