❓ Mr. Watson questions the suitability and justification of a National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) development by Yaran Property Group in Little Grove, particularly regarding its location, design, and compliance with NRAS guidelines. The Minister responds by deferring to the Department of Housing and the Commonwealth Government.
AnsweredQoN 8476Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) and Yaran Property Group developments at Little Grove:
(a) can the Minister please provide an explanation as to how and why the Department considers Little Grove to be a priority area of interest under the scheme;
(b) the Department claims, in relation to the development, that in regional areas it can take a
more relaxed view to proximity to services and greater
distances to services can be tolerated. Yet there is no provision in the NRAS Act for such a view to be taken. On what basis was such a relaxation exercised and why;
(c) the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website states that typically, NRAS dwellings are indistinguishable from other middle-market dwellings. Yet these developments are comprised solely of single bedroom units on mainly 200 square metre lots, and are starkly out of character with the surrounding middle-market dwellings of established family housing on a minimum quarter-acre and larger semi-rural blocks. Why does the Department of Housing consider that the Yaran Group proposals are indistinguishable from other middle-market dwellings in Little Grove;
(d) the Department has stated that the one-bedroom design of these dwellings is suited to retirees. On what basis has it determined that these units are suited to retirees in the absence of public transport, medical services, supermarkets and pharmacies in the Little Grove area;
(e) the Department has stated that the NRAS does allow for extensions where there are
events outside the applicant's control, such as planning delays, and suggests that it will grant a 12-month extension to Yaran's 30 June 2012 development deadline despite the fact that Yaran's original application did not comply with a number of planning codes as well as NRAS eligibility criteria. Why was an extension granted for these developments; and
(f) Little Grove is over 10 kilometres away from all services except for a primary school and a tourist-oriented convenience store. If there was an application for NRAS funding for a development 10 kilometres outside any other town in the South West would the application be treated as favourably, and if not, then on what basis would it be treated differently, given that the availability of services would be similar?
(a) can the Minister please provide an explanation as to how and why the Department considers Little Grove to be a priority area of interest under the scheme;
(b) the Department claims, in relation to the development, that in regional areas it can take a
more relaxed view to proximity to services and greater
distances to services can be tolerated. Yet there is no provision in the NRAS Act for such a view to be taken. On what basis was such a relaxation exercised and why;
(c) the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website states that typically, NRAS dwellings are indistinguishable from other middle-market dwellings. Yet these developments are comprised solely of single bedroom units on mainly 200 square metre lots, and are starkly out of character with the surrounding middle-market dwellings of established family housing on a minimum quarter-acre and larger semi-rural blocks. Why does the Department of Housing consider that the Yaran Group proposals are indistinguishable from other middle-market dwellings in Little Grove;
(d) the Department has stated that the one-bedroom design of these dwellings is suited to retirees. On what basis has it determined that these units are suited to retirees in the absence of public transport, medical services, supermarkets and pharmacies in the Little Grove area;
(e) the Department has stated that the NRAS does allow for extensions where there are
events outside the applicant's control, such as planning delays, and suggests that it will grant a 12-month extension to Yaran's 30 June 2012 development deadline despite the fact that Yaran's original application did not comply with a number of planning codes as well as NRAS eligibility criteria. Why was an extension granted for these developments; and
(f) Little Grove is over 10 kilometres away from all services except for a primary school and a tourist-oriented convenience store. If there was an application for NRAS funding for a development 10 kilometres outside any other town in the South West would the application be treated as favourably, and if not, then on what basis would it be treated differently, given that the availability of services would be similar?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2012
Responded by
Minister for Housing
Response time
34 days
The Department of Housing advises:
(a) The public housing waitlist currently indicates demand for 220 one-bedroom social housing rental properties in the Albany area. A further 1,325 households are in need of affordable single bedroom properties. The development is consistent with the State Government's affordable housing priorities and will provide much needed affordable housing in the Albany area.
(b) Each NRAS application was considered on its individual merits taking into account the varied nature and location of urban development in regional centres across Western Australia and Schedule 1 of the
National Rental Affordability Scheme Regulations 2008.
(c) The proposed development in Little Grove has been approved by the City of Albany as being compliant with relevant planning and building codes and will be built to a 6 star energy efficiency rating. The "indistinguishable" reference relates to the comparability of the build quality of NRAS dwellings when compared to other middle-market dwellings.
(d) These one-bedroom units will provide affordable housing options for a range of individuals and couples. Units will be made available to eligible people who believe their lifestyle is suited to the location.
(e) The applicant has provided information to support its request for extension and this has been considered and supported by both the State and Commonwealth Governments. Discretion for granting time extensions rests with the Commonwealth Government.
(f) Each application is considered on its own merits in the context of the assessment criteria.
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(a) The public housing waitlist currently indicates demand for 220 one-bedroom social housing rental properties in the Albany area. A further 1,325 households are in need of affordable single bedroom properties. The development is consistent with the State Government's affordable housing priorities and will provide much needed affordable housing in the Albany area.
(b) Each NRAS application was considered on its individual merits taking into account the varied nature and location of urban development in regional centres across Western Australia and Schedule 1 of the
National Rental Affordability Scheme Regulations 2008.
(c) The proposed development in Little Grove has been approved by the City of Albany as being compliant with relevant planning and building codes and will be built to a 6 star energy efficiency rating. The "indistinguishable" reference relates to the comparability of the build quality of NRAS dwellings when compared to other middle-market dwellings.
(d) These one-bedroom units will provide affordable housing options for a range of individuals and couples. Units will be made available to eligible people who believe their lifestyle is suited to the location.
(e) The applicant has provided information to support its request for extension and this has been considered and supported by both the State and Commonwealth Governments. Discretion for granting time extensions rests with the Commonwealth Government.
(f) Each application is considered on its own merits in the context of the assessment criteria.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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