7/10/00
The opening of 19 rental units for people on low incomes and the disabled demonstrates that the East Perth redevelopment area is not the sole province of those with money, Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames said today.
Dr Hames was officially opening the $2 million development in Haig Park Circle, a joint venture between the Ministry of Housing and City Housing.
“The State Government congratulates the Ministry and City Housing for upholding the view that those on low incomes should be given a wide choice of suburbs in which to live, which creates a balanced social mix,” Dr Hames said.
“Just because a developing area becomes desirable, it should not be prohibitive to the lower socio-economic groups.
“We are moving away from past mistakes of isolating public housing areas which often led to that suburb and the people living there being unjustly stigmatised.”
Dr Hames said that more than three years ago the East Perth redevelopment Authority called for expressions of interest from community groups to develop the land in Haig Park Circle.
The authority provided the land at a subsidised cost and the Ministry of Housing, through its Community Housing Program committed itself to the project on the land and chose City Housing as its preferred partner.
City Housing has a 50 per cent equity in the complex and will manage it.
City Housing (previously known as Perth Inner City Housing Association) already manages 150 dwellings with the Ministry in the city, ranging from group homes to lodging houses.
“East Perth is becoming one of the city’s prime residential areas and may also one day be an artists’ haven,” Dr Hames said.
The complex includes an area for four studios for artists, who all meet Homeswest criteria.
The units, designed by architects Banham and Associates and built by Rimini Homes, are in keeping with the continental-style of East Perth.
Media contact:
Sandy Gater, Minister’s office 9424 7450
Janet Wainwright, Ministry of Housing 9222 4500
