The WA parliamentary question seeks occupancy rates for three housing initiatives in Hedland. The answer provides the occupancy rates and context regarding the government's affordable housing strategy and market conditions.

AnsweredQoN 5694Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 August 2016
Portfolio
Housing

QuestionView source ↗

As at 16 August 2016, what was the occupancy of: (a) Osprey Village; (b) Cottier Apartments; and (c) dwellings associated with the Hedland 125 house service worker intervention package?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
20 September 2016
Responded by
Minister for Housing
Response time
35 days
The Liberal-National State Government’s investment in the Pilbara was not a speculative property play intended to secure a capital gain from the investment.  The investment was a response to the strong demand for housing in Port and South Hedland.  This was exacerbated by an undersupply of developed land in the town.  An important focus of the Liberal-National State Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy is increasing housing quality and diversity in regional Western Australia, to provide affordable housing and rental opportunities for key workers.  Regional Western Australia has unique challenges.  To be able to attract a teacher you need to be able to offer them a quality home.  Developments like these help attract teachers, child protection workers and other vital community service employees to regional areas.  Our Affordable Housing Strategy is not just a metropolitan strategy, it is a strategy for the regions as well.
The Housing Authority advises:
(a) 40%. Since the village was completed, the Hedland property market has normalised. This has led to key workers being able to afford housing in the local market.
(b) 80%.
(c) 8%. The Hedland 125 Service Worker Intervention Package (Hedland 125) was a two year intervention by Government to ensure the availability of affordable housing for service workers and local businesses. Current market conditions do not support the immediate sale of all properties and a staged release is being implemented. Housing is repurposing a number of properties for alternative use, including transitional housing and affordable home ownership opportunities through shared equity.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more