❓ The Minister for Housing responds to questions regarding the government's investment in Government Regional Officers' Housing (GROH) and land release for worker accommodation in the Midwest and Gascoyne regions, highlighting initiatives to address housing and land supply challenges.
AnsweredQoN 114Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT REGIONAL
OFFICERS' HOUSING
114. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to supporting local jobs in regional Western Australia
by expanding worker accommodation, in particular, in the midwest and Gascoyne
regions.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on this government's significant investment
in Government Regional Officers' Housing as well as the release of land
worker accommodation?
(2) Can the minister
outline to the house how this will benefit the towns and communities in this
region?
OFFICERS' HOUSING
114. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to supporting local jobs in regional Western Australia
by expanding worker accommodation, in particular, in the midwest and Gascoyne
regions.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on this government's significant investment
in Government Regional Officers' Housing as well as the release of land
worker accommodation?
(2) Can the minister
outline to the house how this will benefit the towns and communities in this
region?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for her question.
(1)–(2) We
know we are in extraordinary times, facing a global pandemic. This has meant
pressures across Australia's housing market. Across Australia, we are
facing the demand for skilled labour, supply chain issues, and, of course, more
Australians are returning home and also returning home to Western Australia. We, like all states, are not immune to the pressures,
but we are doing everything we can right now to tackle both housing and land supply. Our building bonus
grant, as we know, is already delivering a huge new supply of housing in both metropolitan and regional Western
Australia: 27 000 metropolitan building approvals and 4 000 regional building
approvals. We are also focused on land supply through the $116 million regional
land booster program, which has released around 400 industrial and residential
lots. We also understand that land is critical to enabling local economies to
grow in regional Western Australia but, particularly, releasing land for worker
accommodation. I am really proud to be the Minister for Lands; Housing helping
to drive this program and to work with local government. We were already
delivering on election commitments. We have worked closely with the Shire of
Northampton to identify an appropriate location. Last week we released a registration
of interest to the market to identify a suitable proponent to develop the land
for worker accommodation. We know
that this is needed in Kalbarri, not just right now but into the future, and it
will help to grow this economic
centre. We have already released a registration of interest for worker
accommodation in Exmouth. Again, we worked with the Shire of Exmouth and the
Gascoyne Development Commission, and they are working through that now to
identify a preferred proponent. In fact, I met with the Shire of Exmouth today.
As a minister, I make myself very accessible to local governments. We talked
about other options to develop temporary or permanent worker accommodation and
general land supply in Exmouth.
The government is now investing
around $200 million to maintain, improve and expand Government Regional
Officers' Housing in Western Australia. They are popping up everywhere.
We have 17 new GROH properties currently under construction, with another 35
properties being planned. We have purchased 27 new homes for GROH, with
negotiations for a further 10. In the Gascoyne and the midwest, we have begun
construction of two GROH properties in Carnarvon. We are making a concerted
effort to invest in both land and housing supply so that we can grow those
regional communities, but we are also looking to the future, when the boom will
recede, by using our social housing fund and the housing diversity pipeline to
create further work, further jobs and further housing and land supply.
member for her question.
(1)–(2) We
know we are in extraordinary times, facing a global pandemic. This has meant
pressures across Australia's housing market. Across Australia, we are
facing the demand for skilled labour, supply chain issues, and, of course, more
Australians are returning home and also returning home to Western Australia. We, like all states, are not immune to the pressures,
but we are doing everything we can right now to tackle both housing and land supply. Our building bonus
grant, as we know, is already delivering a huge new supply of housing in both metropolitan and regional Western
Australia: 27 000 metropolitan building approvals and 4 000 regional building
approvals. We are also focused on land supply through the $116 million regional
land booster program, which has released around 400 industrial and residential
lots. We also understand that land is critical to enabling local economies to
grow in regional Western Australia but, particularly, releasing land for worker
accommodation. I am really proud to be the Minister for Lands; Housing helping
to drive this program and to work with local government. We were already
delivering on election commitments. We have worked closely with the Shire of
Northampton to identify an appropriate location. Last week we released a registration
of interest to the market to identify a suitable proponent to develop the land
for worker accommodation. We know
that this is needed in Kalbarri, not just right now but into the future, and it
will help to grow this economic
centre. We have already released a registration of interest for worker
accommodation in Exmouth. Again, we worked with the Shire of Exmouth and the
Gascoyne Development Commission, and they are working through that now to
identify a preferred proponent. In fact, I met with the Shire of Exmouth today.
As a minister, I make myself very accessible to local governments. We talked
about other options to develop temporary or permanent worker accommodation and
general land supply in Exmouth.
The government is now investing
around $200 million to maintain, improve and expand Government Regional
Officers' Housing in Western Australia. They are popping up everywhere.
We have 17 new GROH properties currently under construction, with another 35
properties being planned. We have purchased 27 new homes for GROH, with
negotiations for a further 10. In the Gascoyne and the midwest, we have begun
construction of two GROH properties in Carnarvon. We are making a concerted
effort to invest in both land and housing supply so that we can grow those
regional communities, but we are also looking to the future, when the boom will
recede, by using our social housing fund and the housing diversity pipeline to
create further work, further jobs and further housing and land supply.
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