❓ The Minister for Regional Development outlines the Liberal-National government's response to increased housing demand in Onslow due to resource projects, including temporary accommodation and a new residential subdivision.
AnsweredQoN 545Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING —
LAND SUPPLY — ONSLOW
545. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Regional Development:
Can the minister please update the
house on how the Liberal‑National government is addressing the increased
demand for housing in Onslow?
LAND SUPPLY — ONSLOW
545. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Regional Development:
Can the minister please update the
house on how the Liberal‑National government is addressing the increased
demand for housing in Onslow?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for North West Central,
who continues to get things done in his electorate—well done.
The member for North West Central
was last week joined by the state-building Premier, who opened the Macedon gas
plant and saw the first domestic gas put into the pipeline from the Macedon
project, which is a substantial step forward for the provision of domestic gas
in Western Australia, and another reason for Western Australia electing a
Liberal‑National government to get things done.
But what has happened in Onslow off
the back of the Gorgon and Wheatstone projects, and now Macedon, is that
enormous pressure has been placed on the local community, as always happens
during the construction phase of these projects. The growth is being driven by
those resource projects and the support services that come to town to make them
happen, and that makes it very difficult for local businesses and local
residents who suffer the rent increases and challenges that come from rapid
demand like that. The government, in looking to address that shortfall, has
today announced 12 new two-bedroom, two-bathroom chalets at the Discovery Parks
of Onslow, which will be available for rent by eligible service workers early
next year. The chalets will be for retail, hospitality and community service
businesses, to help them house staff and make sure their businesses can
continue to provide services to the town. We need to make sure that Onslow and
the wider region can benefit from the major projects happening in their
community, and the increase in rents and the demand for housing puts those
businesses under pressure. This is a $4.8 million commitment from the Liberal‑National
government, and hopefully it will mean that from early next year small
businesses in the community will be able to take advantage of those 12 service
worker accommodation units. The government previously did this in Karratha and
Port Hedland, where there were really important projects for those communities;
a project is underway in Newman, where we are doing the same thing, and we are
making sure that the small business sector can benefit from the opportunities
that expansions of the resource sector bring to their community. Applications
are open to eligible businesses from Wednesday, 30 October, and we will be
encouraging local businesses to go to the Department of Housing website to
apply. This is a temporary solution, with the chalets secured for five years,
and there are longer term solutions to be announced in the near future. The
population of Onslow is expected to grow to more than 2 000 over the next four years
as a result of the Macedon and Wheatstone projects, and work is about to start
on LandCorp's new residential subdivision, which will provide 220 lots
with the potential for 300 dwellings that will house more than 700 people. The
first lots are expected to be released to the market at the end of 2013, and
will be offered to local residents first.
Well done to the member for North West
Central on getting gas into the pipeline at the Macedon project with the
Premier last week. We need to make sure we support the community and the small
business sector to take advantage of the opportunities. The Liberal‑National
government is making sure we do that with 12 service worker accommodation units
ready from early next year, and a 220-block subdivision underway from LandCorp
in the very near future.
who continues to get things done in his electorate—well done.
The member for North West Central
was last week joined by the state-building Premier, who opened the Macedon gas
plant and saw the first domestic gas put into the pipeline from the Macedon
project, which is a substantial step forward for the provision of domestic gas
in Western Australia, and another reason for Western Australia electing a
Liberal‑National government to get things done.
But what has happened in Onslow off
the back of the Gorgon and Wheatstone projects, and now Macedon, is that
enormous pressure has been placed on the local community, as always happens
during the construction phase of these projects. The growth is being driven by
those resource projects and the support services that come to town to make them
happen, and that makes it very difficult for local businesses and local
residents who suffer the rent increases and challenges that come from rapid
demand like that. The government, in looking to address that shortfall, has
today announced 12 new two-bedroom, two-bathroom chalets at the Discovery Parks
of Onslow, which will be available for rent by eligible service workers early
next year. The chalets will be for retail, hospitality and community service
businesses, to help them house staff and make sure their businesses can
continue to provide services to the town. We need to make sure that Onslow and
the wider region can benefit from the major projects happening in their
community, and the increase in rents and the demand for housing puts those
businesses under pressure. This is a $4.8 million commitment from the Liberal‑National
government, and hopefully it will mean that from early next year small
businesses in the community will be able to take advantage of those 12 service
worker accommodation units. The government previously did this in Karratha and
Port Hedland, where there were really important projects for those communities;
a project is underway in Newman, where we are doing the same thing, and we are
making sure that the small business sector can benefit from the opportunities
that expansions of the resource sector bring to their community. Applications
are open to eligible businesses from Wednesday, 30 October, and we will be
encouraging local businesses to go to the Department of Housing website to
apply. This is a temporary solution, with the chalets secured for five years,
and there are longer term solutions to be announced in the near future. The
population of Onslow is expected to grow to more than 2 000 over the next four years
as a result of the Macedon and Wheatstone projects, and work is about to start
on LandCorp's new residential subdivision, which will provide 220 lots
with the potential for 300 dwellings that will house more than 700 people. The
first lots are expected to be released to the market at the end of 2013, and
will be offered to local residents first.
Well done to the member for North West
Central on getting gas into the pipeline at the Macedon project with the
Premier last week. We need to make sure we support the community and the small
business sector to take advantage of the opportunities. The Liberal‑National
government is making sure we do that with 12 service worker accommodation units
ready from early next year, and a 220-block subdivision underway from LandCorp
in the very near future.
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