❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Housing on social housing allocation in the Kimberley, citing concerns about overcrowding and crime. The Minister refutes claims that social housing is on hold, detailing current investments and expressing disappointment at misrepresentation of a meeting.
AnsweredQoN 86Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL HOUSING — KIMBERLEY
86. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to a meeting on Thursday, 3
February, with the Kimberley Regional Group, which comprises the Shires of Broome, Wyndham–East Kimberley, Halls
Creek and Derby–West Kimberley, and reports that the minister indicated that any construction of much-needed social
housing would wait until after the current critical skills shortage had passed.
(1) Of the 3 300 houses the
minister has announced, how many have been allocated to the Kimberley?
(2) What is the
minister's solution to deal with the crisis in the Kimberley right now,
given that overcrowded houses are contributing to the crime issue facing these
communities?
86. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to a meeting on Thursday, 3
February, with the Kimberley Regional Group, which comprises the Shires of Broome, Wyndham–East Kimberley, Halls
Creek and Derby–West Kimberley, and reports that the minister indicated that any construction of much-needed social
housing would wait until after the current critical skills shortage had passed.
(1) Of the 3 300 houses the
minister has announced, how many have been allocated to the Kimberley?
(2) What is the
minister's solution to deal with the crisis in the Kimberley right now,
given that overcrowded houses are contributing to the crime issue facing these
communities?
AnswerView source ↗
I want to thank the member for the
question.
(1)–(2) I am disappointed and saddened by the Kimberley
Regional Group's misrepresentation of this matter. I want to be
very clear. I had a 30-minute meeting—everyone in this chamber knows
that I am highly accessible and responsive to
local governments across Western Australia—which turned into about one
hour and 15 minutes. At the time, we talked about the current housing
market. I have already been on the public record about this: we face a heated
construction market and we face challenges, but we are still doing everything we can to deliver and accelerate social
housing while also having a $522 million social housing fund for a pipeline
of work once the boom finishes.
It is incorrect to say that social
housing in the Kimberley is on hold. I want to be very clear: currently, there
are nearly 40 new social homes under construction or contracted for delivery in
the Kimberley. I have also worked with the Shire of Derby–West
Kimberley to use 15 vacant Government Regional Officers' Housing homes to not only convert to social housing,
but also provide accommodation for the council and other staff. We have
provided nearly $3.2 million worth of grants to the Kimberley community housing
organisation, and, of course, we have the $200 million north-west Aboriginal
housing fund, of which we have invested $25 million
into the East Kimberley transitional housing program. We had a $20 000
building bonus grant, which has seen a 195 per cent increase in the number of
homes approved last year.
W e
understand this: it is about not only building social homes, but also creating
land supply. As part of our $116 million Regional Land Booster program, we have
provided funding for the Kimberley to release 40 lots, of which the majority
are in Broome. I want to be very clear: we are investing in social housing
right now. We are doing everything we can through spot purchasing, using timber
frames and modular homes, and converting existing affordable product stock that
would otherwise be sold to the market. We also have $522 million set aside so
that when the market recedes, we have a pipeline of work.
That was the discussion. I am deeply
disappointed that members of that group have misrepresented that detailed
conversation.
question.
(1)–(2) I am disappointed and saddened by the Kimberley
Regional Group's misrepresentation of this matter. I want to be
very clear. I had a 30-minute meeting—everyone in this chamber knows
that I am highly accessible and responsive to
local governments across Western Australia—which turned into about one
hour and 15 minutes. At the time, we talked about the current housing
market. I have already been on the public record about this: we face a heated
construction market and we face challenges, but we are still doing everything we can to deliver and accelerate social
housing while also having a $522 million social housing fund for a pipeline
of work once the boom finishes.
It is incorrect to say that social
housing in the Kimberley is on hold. I want to be very clear: currently, there
are nearly 40 new social homes under construction or contracted for delivery in
the Kimberley. I have also worked with the Shire of Derby–West
Kimberley to use 15 vacant Government Regional Officers' Housing homes to not only convert to social housing,
but also provide accommodation for the council and other staff. We have
provided nearly $3.2 million worth of grants to the Kimberley community housing
organisation, and, of course, we have the $200 million north-west Aboriginal
housing fund, of which we have invested $25 million
into the East Kimberley transitional housing program. We had a $20 000
building bonus grant, which has seen a 195 per cent increase in the number of
homes approved last year.
W e
understand this: it is about not only building social homes, but also creating
land supply. As part of our $116 million Regional Land Booster program, we have
provided funding for the Kimberley to release 40 lots, of which the majority
are in Broome. I want to be very clear: we are investing in social housing
right now. We are doing everything we can through spot purchasing, using timber
frames and modular homes, and converting existing affordable product stock that
would otherwise be sold to the market. We also have $522 million set aside so
that when the market recedes, we have a pipeline of work.
That was the discussion. I am deeply
disappointed that members of that group have misrepresented that detailed
conversation.
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