❓ Dr. Krishnan asks about the government's plan to overcome construction challenges and support local jobs in delivering social housing, given the $875 million investment. The Minister outlines strategies like modular homes, timber construction, spot purchases, and regional renewal programs.
AnsweredQoN 832Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL HOUSING —
2021–22 STATE BUDGET
832. Dr J. KRISHNAN to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's significant efforts in reforming the delivery of social
housing in Western Australia, including the record $875 million investment as
part of this year's budget.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the government is overcoming the significant
challenges within the building and construction sector in delivering social
housing across the state?
(2) Can the
minister also advise the house how this investment is supporting local jobs and
local businesses?
2021–22 STATE BUDGET
832. Dr J. KRISHNAN to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's significant efforts in reforming the delivery of social
housing in Western Australia, including the record $875 million investment as
part of this year's budget.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the government is overcoming the significant
challenges within the building and construction sector in delivering social
housing across the state?
(2) Can the
minister also advise the house how this investment is supporting local jobs and
local businesses?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for his question. It is great to provide a wrap-up of our
social housing program. I want members to think about when COVID first hit;
there were very dire projections about the state of the economy, and in
particular the state of the housing market. In fact, what we have seen is quite
the opposite. Our management of the economy and COVID has delivered a safe
state, with a very strong economy, the strongest in Australia, with low
unemployment. Of course, our building bonus grant has fuelled incredible growth in construction and housing. That is
providing thousands and thousands of jobs to Western Australians, with
27 000 building approvals, and nearly 4 000 Keystart approvals. That has meant
that thousands and thousands of first home buyers have entered the market to
secure a new home. Of course, we are very cognisant of the pressures as more Western
Australians have returned home, and with the tightening of the market. That is
why we have announced the largest injection into social housing in the state's
history, $875 million, which will take the total social housing investment over
the next four years to more than $2.1 billion, to deliver 3 300 new homes.
We do face challenges in delivery. We
have a heated construction market and a booming housing sector. That is why I am leading a very strong reform
program within the agency and within delivery so that we can pivot as we
need, to ensure that we get the best outcomes as fast as possible. That is why
we have announced a modular program, with
nearly $100 million for 200 modular homes, 150 of which will be in the
regions. That is why we have embraced timber. Where we have shifted from double
brick to timber, we are seeing homes delivered within five months. That is
extraordinary given the heated construction market we face.
We are also boosting our spot
purchasing program so that we can provide instant injections. We are also
converting our standard stock that is sold to the market under the Department
of Communities, and nearly 500 of those are being converted to social housing.
We have our regional renewal program of $20 million across Bunbury, Albany and
Geraldton, where we are tackling those more difficult issues, where there is
high social density and where we are trying to encourage greater liveability
but also ensure that we retain and refurbish social housing. Of course, given
the heated construction market, we are creating a pipeline of work, with $522 million
set aside in the out years so that when those 27 000 building approvals are
completed, we have a serious amount of funding to fuel a number of projects
across Western Australia—to provide that delivery of work. I am deeply
proud, as the new Minister for Housing, as part of the McGowan government, that
we are driving a very clear, accelerated program to deliver social housing in Western
Australia.
thank the member for his question. It is great to provide a wrap-up of our
social housing program. I want members to think about when COVID first hit;
there were very dire projections about the state of the economy, and in
particular the state of the housing market. In fact, what we have seen is quite
the opposite. Our management of the economy and COVID has delivered a safe
state, with a very strong economy, the strongest in Australia, with low
unemployment. Of course, our building bonus grant has fuelled incredible growth in construction and housing. That is
providing thousands and thousands of jobs to Western Australians, with
27 000 building approvals, and nearly 4 000 Keystart approvals. That has meant
that thousands and thousands of first home buyers have entered the market to
secure a new home. Of course, we are very cognisant of the pressures as more Western
Australians have returned home, and with the tightening of the market. That is
why we have announced the largest injection into social housing in the state's
history, $875 million, which will take the total social housing investment over
the next four years to more than $2.1 billion, to deliver 3 300 new homes.
We do face challenges in delivery. We
have a heated construction market and a booming housing sector. That is why I am leading a very strong reform
program within the agency and within delivery so that we can pivot as we
need, to ensure that we get the best outcomes as fast as possible. That is why
we have announced a modular program, with
nearly $100 million for 200 modular homes, 150 of which will be in the
regions. That is why we have embraced timber. Where we have shifted from double
brick to timber, we are seeing homes delivered within five months. That is
extraordinary given the heated construction market we face.
We are also boosting our spot
purchasing program so that we can provide instant injections. We are also
converting our standard stock that is sold to the market under the Department
of Communities, and nearly 500 of those are being converted to social housing.
We have our regional renewal program of $20 million across Bunbury, Albany and
Geraldton, where we are tackling those more difficult issues, where there is
high social density and where we are trying to encourage greater liveability
but also ensure that we retain and refurbish social housing. Of course, given
the heated construction market, we are creating a pipeline of work, with $522 million
set aside in the out years so that when those 27 000 building approvals are
completed, we have a serious amount of funding to fuel a number of projects
across Western Australia—to provide that delivery of work. I am deeply
proud, as the new Minister for Housing, as part of the McGowan government, that
we are driving a very clear, accelerated program to deliver social housing in Western
Australia.
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