❓ Question regarding the management of housing maintenance information following an Auditor General's report, focusing on building condition assessments, overdue work orders, and contractor travel costs. The answer provides updates on completion of assessments, data storage, plans for expansion, and strategies to address overdue work and travel expenses.
AnsweredQoN 563Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Auditor General's performance audit on the Management of Housing and Maintenance Information, and I ask: (a) When is the current Building Condition Assessment (BCA) expected to be complete: (i) Has funding been allocated for the identified and required works as a result of the BCA; (b) How is the BCA data being stored or managed for individual properties to aid ongoing planning; (c) Are there plans for a BCA to be progressively rolled out across remaining housing stock: (i) If yes, when and at what cost; and (ii) If no, why not; (d) What is being done to address the level of overdue work orders, which remain above 2019 levels; and (e) How is the Department ensuring value for money for taxpayers when it comes to contractor travel?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works
Response time
6 days
(a) The current BCA Program was completed on 30 June 2025.
i. Priority 1 works identified through the program have already been remediated.
(b) BCA data is stored in the Department of Housing and Works (DHW) data warehouse which supports planned maintenance.
(c) Consistent with the OAG performance audit, plans to expand on the current BCA program were identified as part of the Head Maintenance Contract Review process.
(d) Through the Head Maintenance Contractors, over 21,000 maintenance work orders are processed every month to ensure homes for vulnerable West Australians remain safe and liveable. A number of factors influence the timeliness of work orders being completed including fluctuations in volume due to seasonal requirements, weather events, property accessibility, and the level of remoteness. The post-COVID construction and associated workforce shortages have an ongoing impact. DHW works closely with contractors to improve completion times, including Clearance Plans to address any overdue works.
(e) The dispersed nature of the Housing Authority’s portfolio (including regional and very remote areas of Western Australia) means significant travel is unavoidable. Maintenance works orders are actioned according to four priority categories to ensure the department maintains its responsibilities under the Residential Tenancy Act 1987.
Around 70% of travel supports urgent and emergency maintenance, ensuring compliance with tenancy obligations. Non-urgent work is bundled wherever possible to reduce travel frequency and cost.
i. Priority 1 works identified through the program have already been remediated.
(b) BCA data is stored in the Department of Housing and Works (DHW) data warehouse which supports planned maintenance.
(c) Consistent with the OAG performance audit, plans to expand on the current BCA program were identified as part of the Head Maintenance Contract Review process.
(d) Through the Head Maintenance Contractors, over 21,000 maintenance work orders are processed every month to ensure homes for vulnerable West Australians remain safe and liveable. A number of factors influence the timeliness of work orders being completed including fluctuations in volume due to seasonal requirements, weather events, property accessibility, and the level of remoteness. The post-COVID construction and associated workforce shortages have an ongoing impact. DHW works closely with contractors to improve completion times, including Clearance Plans to address any overdue works.
(e) The dispersed nature of the Housing Authority’s portfolio (including regional and very remote areas of Western Australia) means significant travel is unavoidable. Maintenance works orders are actioned according to four priority categories to ensure the department maintains its responsibilities under the Residential Tenancy Act 1987.
Around 70% of travel supports urgent and emergency maintenance, ensuring compliance with tenancy obligations. Non-urgent work is bundled wherever possible to reduce travel frequency and cost.
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