❓ Question regarding vacant government housing in Broome, including GROH properties and public housing, and the number of people on the housing waitlist. The Minister provides explanations for the vacancies and waitlist figures.
AnsweredQoN 4278Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Question on Notice 3829, and I ask: (a) can the Minister explain why vacant Government Regional Officer's Housing (GROH) properties in Broome have been earmarked for use in the West Kimberley Transitional Housing Program; (b) why has more than six public housing properties in Broome been vacant for over six months; (c) why have 3 GROH properties in Broome been vacant for over three years; and (d) how many people are currently on the housing wait list for Broome?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2015
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
47 days
The Department of Housing advises:
(a) The vacant GROH dwellings were assessed as surplus to GROH requirements. The surplus dwellings will be used to accommodate participants in the West Kimberley Transitional Housing Program.
(b) Three properties were awaiting demolition and have now been demolished. One property was undergoing refurbishment, one property required extensive maintenance due to termite damage, and one property remained vacant pending an appeal by the family of the previous tenant for succession of the tenancy. The appeal was declined and, following a breakdown in negotiations with the family, the Department of Housing had to initiate legal action, proceed to trial and seek a court order under the
Residential Tenancies Act 1987
for vacant possession of the premises, which significantly delayed the commencement of vacated maintenance.
(c) The Department of Corrective Services returned the dwellings to the Department of Housing in August 2012. The future of the dwellings was unclear at that time as the Department of Corrective Services had initially indicated its interest in taking on the dwellings again. The dwellings were therefore retained under the GROH portfolio until there was clarity around demand and their use. In August 2014, the decision was made to transfer the dwellings to the West Kimberley Transitional Housing Program and a feasibility study is underway regarding refurbishment.
(d) As of 30 June 2015, there are 481 "wait-turn" applications and 119 priority applications listed for the Broome preference zone.
(a) The vacant GROH dwellings were assessed as surplus to GROH requirements. The surplus dwellings will be used to accommodate participants in the West Kimberley Transitional Housing Program.
(b) Three properties were awaiting demolition and have now been demolished. One property was undergoing refurbishment, one property required extensive maintenance due to termite damage, and one property remained vacant pending an appeal by the family of the previous tenant for succession of the tenancy. The appeal was declined and, following a breakdown in negotiations with the family, the Department of Housing had to initiate legal action, proceed to trial and seek a court order under the
Residential Tenancies Act 1987
for vacant possession of the premises, which significantly delayed the commencement of vacated maintenance.
(c) The Department of Corrective Services returned the dwellings to the Department of Housing in August 2012. The future of the dwellings was unclear at that time as the Department of Corrective Services had initially indicated its interest in taking on the dwellings again. The dwellings were therefore retained under the GROH portfolio until there was clarity around demand and their use. In August 2014, the decision was made to transfer the dwellings to the West Kimberley Transitional Housing Program and a feasibility study is underway regarding refurbishment.
(d) As of 30 June 2015, there are 481 "wait-turn" applications and 119 priority applications listed for the Broome preference zone.
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