4/ 01/01
The first houses to be refurbished under the Ministry of Housing’s $16 million Eastern Horizons project are set to go on sale early next month.
Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames said it was just 18 months ago that the Ministry made the commitment to give Midland, Midvale, Koongamia and a portion of Swan View the biggest facelift it had ever seen - the refurbishment of more than 600 Ministry-owned houses.
“The commitment was well on its way to reality with five refurbished houses and eight vacant lots going on sale soon in Midvale,” Dr Hames said.
“The homes have been freshly painted, fitted with new kitchens, new bathrooms and re-landscaped, generally giving the houses a new lease of life.
“Eastern Horizons is a very exciting project that is changing the look and dynamics of a large portion of the Midland area.
“As part of the world-acclaimed New Living program, the Eastern Horizons project offers people the chance to buy affordable housing, improves the social dynamics of the area and gives the local public housing a complete facelift.”
The project involves the refurbishment of 654 properties in total - 350 in Midland, 144 in Midvale, 119 in Koongamia and 41 in Swan View. Of these, 240 will be refurbished and sold, 366 refurbished and retained for Homeswest rental and 48 will be demolished.
Dr Hames said the overall project would cost about $16 million, but like all New Living areas, this would be recouped by the sale of refurbished houses and sub-divided land, so that rental housing is able to be renewed and upgraded.
The New Living project was recently awarded the prestigious World Habitat Award.
“The New Living project has been completed in Lockridge where there has been a 38 per cent reduction in crime in just five years,” Dr Hames said.
“It has also given tenants and members of the community an opportunity to buy quality, affordable housing.”
New Living is the State’s biggest ever urban renewal project, changing degraded areas heavily dominated by outdated public housing into safer communities. Eight New Living projects are currently under way in the metropolitan area and a further nine in regional areas, affecting over 10,000 properties.
Further information:
Sandy Gater, Minister’s office, 9424 7450
Bev Wilcox Ministry of Housing, 9222 4885
