25/08/05
The State Government’s determination to generate more affordable housing options in Bunbury continues to bear fruit with the release of new lots in Glen Iris and Carey Park.
Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said work would begin this week on the development of 34 lots at Glen Iris to go on sale at the end of the year.
Another 60 lots would be available in February or March next year. They range in size from 350 to 640sq.m and should sell for between $75,000 and $85,000.
Mr Logan also announced that a major contract for subdivision works at the former Bunbury Hospital site in Blair Street had been awarded to DPM Contractors.
The project will create 78 single residential lots ranging in size from 292 to 592sq.m, with prices expected to start at about $130,000. Three lots will be allocated to Homeswest and the Department of Health for group housing. Work will also include the development of 5,500sq.m of public open space, streetscape treatments and the relocation of some mature trees.
Work will begin next month and lots should be available for sale by March, 2006.
The Minister said the Department of Housing and Works (DHW) was working on a number of strategies to increase its rental housing stock and improve housing affordability in the Bunbury and Busselton areas.
This included the provision of home ownership schemes to enable low-income earners to purchase or build their own home and negotiation with local authorities to improve redevelopment opportunities.
“For example, the joint venture partnership with Home Satterley Dalyellup Pty Ltd for the development of a 572ha beach land site at Dalyellup will eventually yield 3,303 lots over 15 years,” Mr Logan said.
“The average sale price in 2004-05 was $111,000, with 224 lots settling under the $112,000 affordability benchmark set by the Real Estate Institute of WA. The 2005-06 budget for affordable lots is 180.”
The Minister said Bunbury’s New Living program would see 12 Carey Park and 24 Withers houses refurbished for sale in 2005-06. Three Carey Park properties were currently on the market, ranging in price from $220,000 to $245,000, and another three in Withers were priced from $170,000.
Properties would continue to be refurbished throughout the year and sold as they became available.
Mr Logan said the provision of affordable land in Busselton was proving difficult, but the opportunity to redevelop properties in parts of East and West Busselton was currently under consideration and largely contingent on rezoning to facilitate a more efficient use of land.
Discussions had also taken place with the local council about a redevelopment strategy that would involve a combination of new development for rental requirements and selected sales to the private market.
The Minister said DHW would continue to develop a responsive building program to provide rental housing for those on low to moderate incomes, including housing for youth, the aged, indigenous families and those with special needs. The construction of 51 rental dwellings began in 2004-05 and another 46 rental dwellings would be built in this financial year.
“Other affordability initiatives include the Keystart mobile lender based in Bunbury to look after the local community,” Mr Logan said.
“Keystart helped 272 low-to-moderate income households buy their homes with low-deposit loans in Bunbury and Busselton in 2004-05,” he said.
“This represents an increase of 38 per cent on the previous year.
“Specialist shared-equity schemes are available to assist specific groups to buy their homes, including the Access home loan scheme for people with disabilities, the Aboriginal Home Ownership Scheme for indigenous people and GoodStart to help people eligible for public rental accommodation to buy a home from Homeswest.”
Minister's Office - 9222 8950
