❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding cuts to the Housing Authority Asset Investment Program and the Kimberley Housing Indigenous Prosperity Program, impacting housing construction starts and waiting lists in regional towns.
AnsweredQoN 1872Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Minister, I draw your attention to the housing sector of the major portfolio spending changes identified in the Appendix of the Government Mid-Year Financial Projections Statement and I ask: (a) how many house constructions starts will be affected by the cut of $381.2 million to the Housing Authority Asset Investment Program listed at page 126 of the Mid-Year Statement; (b) how many house construction starts will be delayed, including where and for whom (e.g. GROH etc); and (c) how much of the $381.2 million is directly from the Housing Authority budget and how much of this money was allocated to the Housing Authority (if any) from the Royalties to Regions program? (2) Given the explanation provided to the general public for the Asset Investment Program cuts as outlined in the Mid-Year Financial statement: (a) what is the median rent for housing over the months July 2013 to the current month in the following towns: (i) Port Hedland; (ii) Karratha; (iii) Onslow; and (iv) Broome; (b) What are the numbers seeking rental accommodation for the months July 2013 to the current month in the following towns: (i) Port Hedland; (ii) Karratha; (iii) Onslow; and (iv) Broome; (c) What are the waiting list times and numbers of applicants for public housing tenants seeking priority accommodation as of 2014 in the following towns: (i) Port Hedland; (ii) Karratha; (iii) Onslow; (iv) Broome; (v) Mount Newman; (vi) Derby; (vii) Kununurra; (viii) Halls Creek; (ix) Fitzroy Crossing; and (x) Wyndham; and (d) What are the general waiting list times and numbers of applicants for public housing tenants seeking accommodation as of 2014 in the following towns: (i) Port Hedland; (ii) Karratha; (iii) Onslow; (iv) Broom; (v) Mount Newman; (vi) Derby; (vii) Kununurra; (viii) Halls Creek; (ix) Fitzroy Crossing; and (x) Wyndham? (3) How many housing construction starts will be affected by the cuts of $79.6 million over the forward estimates as identified at page 128 of the Mid-Year Financial Statement and where will these changes reductions impact: (a) is the $79.6 million worth of savings identified as cuts at page 128 of the Statement being returned to the Royalties to Regions Program or Consolidated Revenue? (4) Why is the $67.8 million allocated to the Kimberley Housing Indigenous Prosperity Program being delayed by two years: (a) how many houses/programs will be delayed by this decision; (b) where will the house constructions/programs be delayed by this decision; and (c) is this money in the KHIP program linked to Commonwealth funding and if so; will the delay impact on the release of Commonwealth funding and how will this impact on the timing of the Kimberley Housing program?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 March 2014
Responded by
Minister for Housing
Response time
28 days
The Department of Housing advises:
(1)
(a)
Up to 389
(b)
(i)
Community Housing Program:
Up to 20 social housing unit commencements budgeted but not specifically identified or committed will not occur.
(ii)
Crisis Accommodation Program:
Up to 38 units that are not yet identified will not occur.
(iii)
Mainstream construction from high value sales:
There will be a potential reduction of approximately 10 units.
The construction rebuild program in relation to sales has not been identified.
The sell down of stock is to be reinvested in 2017-18 to better reflect requirements of that program.
(iv)
Mainstream construction from Stimulus Stage 3 sell downs:
There will be no overall impact on the total number of homes built.
(v)
Key service worker construction from sell downs of key service worker accommodation:
The construction rebuild program had not been specifically identified or committed.
The sell down of the key service worker stock is to be reinvested in 2017-18, to better reflect the requirements of that program.
(vi)
Construction and purchase of Government Regional Officers' Housing (GROH):
Reduced GROH construction starts by region:
East Kimberley: 8
Goldfields: 110
Mid West / Gascoyne: 35
Pilbara: 72
Southern: 12
Southwest: 7
West Kimberley: 28
Wheatbelt: 19
The Department will use existing stock or lease in these markets to meet demand.
(vii)
Hamilton workers accommodation fly camp:
This represents a reduction of temporary accommodation modules that are no longer required for this project due to a re-staging of this residential land estate development.
Modules will be re-assigned to other worker accommodation site(s).
(c)
Of the $381.2 million reduction, a total of $116.582 million relates to Royalties for Regions Housing for Workers program.
It specifically refers to the reinvestment in housing from the sell down of key service worker stock that was originally funded by the Royalties for Regions program.
This is now to be reinvested in 2017-18 to better reflect the requirements of that program.
(2)
(a) - (b)The Department of Housing does not collect this information.
(c)
As at 31 January 2014:
(i) 148 weeks; 59 applications
(ii) 76 weeks; 23 applications
(iii) 124 weeks; three applications
(iv) 123 weeks; 127 applications
(v) 81 weeks; four applications
(vi) 65 weeks; 33 applications
(vii) 57 weeks; 21 applications
(viii) 99 weeks; 55 applications
(ix) 95 weeks; nine applications
(x) 79 weeks; 13 applications
(d)
Figures for the general waiting list include both wait turn and priority applicants. As at 31 January 2014:
(i) 216 weeks; 290 applications
(ii) 161 weeks; 139 applications
(iii) 229 weeks; nine applications
(iv) 206 weeks; 525 applications
(v) 114 weeks; 51 applications
(vi) 182 weeks; 219 applications
(vii) 141 weeks; 187 applications
(viii) 149 weeks (corrected to exclude data input errors); 179 applications
(ix) 216 weeks; 43 applications
(x) 105 weeks; 51 applications
(3)
Unspecified.
Individual projects relating to the reflow of $79.6 million over the forward estimates have not been formally identified or approved.
(a)
Royalties for Regions Program.
(4)
As part of the 2013-14 State Budget, the Housing Authority was allocated $33.9m over two years from 2013-14 for the Kimberley Housing Indigenous Prosperity Program, not $67.8 million.
The $33.9 million Kimberley Housing Indigenous Prosperity Program was deferred by two years at the 2013-14 Mid Year Review
(a)
60 houses.
(b)
Broome (40 houses) and Derby (20 houses).
(c)
This program is not linked to Commonwealth Government funding.
(1)
(a)
Up to 389
(b)
(i)
Community Housing Program:
Up to 20 social housing unit commencements budgeted but not specifically identified or committed will not occur.
(ii)
Crisis Accommodation Program:
Up to 38 units that are not yet identified will not occur.
(iii)
Mainstream construction from high value sales:
There will be a potential reduction of approximately 10 units.
The construction rebuild program in relation to sales has not been identified.
The sell down of stock is to be reinvested in 2017-18 to better reflect requirements of that program.
(iv)
Mainstream construction from Stimulus Stage 3 sell downs:
There will be no overall impact on the total number of homes built.
(v)
Key service worker construction from sell downs of key service worker accommodation:
The construction rebuild program had not been specifically identified or committed.
The sell down of the key service worker stock is to be reinvested in 2017-18, to better reflect the requirements of that program.
(vi)
Construction and purchase of Government Regional Officers' Housing (GROH):
Reduced GROH construction starts by region:
East Kimberley: 8
Goldfields: 110
Mid West / Gascoyne: 35
Pilbara: 72
Southern: 12
Southwest: 7
West Kimberley: 28
Wheatbelt: 19
The Department will use existing stock or lease in these markets to meet demand.
(vii)
Hamilton workers accommodation fly camp:
This represents a reduction of temporary accommodation modules that are no longer required for this project due to a re-staging of this residential land estate development.
Modules will be re-assigned to other worker accommodation site(s).
(c)
Of the $381.2 million reduction, a total of $116.582 million relates to Royalties for Regions Housing for Workers program.
It specifically refers to the reinvestment in housing from the sell down of key service worker stock that was originally funded by the Royalties for Regions program.
This is now to be reinvested in 2017-18 to better reflect the requirements of that program.
(2)
(a) - (b)The Department of Housing does not collect this information.
(c)
As at 31 January 2014:
(i) 148 weeks; 59 applications
(ii) 76 weeks; 23 applications
(iii) 124 weeks; three applications
(iv) 123 weeks; 127 applications
(v) 81 weeks; four applications
(vi) 65 weeks; 33 applications
(vii) 57 weeks; 21 applications
(viii) 99 weeks; 55 applications
(ix) 95 weeks; nine applications
(x) 79 weeks; 13 applications
(d)
Figures for the general waiting list include both wait turn and priority applicants. As at 31 January 2014:
(i) 216 weeks; 290 applications
(ii) 161 weeks; 139 applications
(iii) 229 weeks; nine applications
(iv) 206 weeks; 525 applications
(v) 114 weeks; 51 applications
(vi) 182 weeks; 219 applications
(vii) 141 weeks; 187 applications
(viii) 149 weeks (corrected to exclude data input errors); 179 applications
(ix) 216 weeks; 43 applications
(x) 105 weeks; 51 applications
(3)
Unspecified.
Individual projects relating to the reflow of $79.6 million over the forward estimates have not been formally identified or approved.
(a)
Royalties for Regions Program.
(4)
As part of the 2013-14 State Budget, the Housing Authority was allocated $33.9m over two years from 2013-14 for the Kimberley Housing Indigenous Prosperity Program, not $67.8 million.
The $33.9 million Kimberley Housing Indigenous Prosperity Program was deferred by two years at the 2013-14 Mid Year Review
(a)
60 houses.
(b)
Broome (40 houses) and Derby (20 houses).
(c)
This program is not linked to Commonwealth Government funding.
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