30/08/05
The State Government has awarded new contracts for the construction of another 15 homes in the Great Southern region.
The $2.5million building program is part of the Gallop Government’s commitment to meeting the housing needs of people in the area.
Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said new homes would be built in Katanning, Broomehill and Kojonup.
Mr Logan said Katanning would be a major beneficiary, with eight new single-detached homes and two new townhouses to replace ageing Homeswest properties.
Local builder Trevor Parsons has been awarded the $864,750 contract to build five three-bedroom homes and two townhouses in Andover Street, Beeck Street, Braeside Street, Park Street and Kemble Terrace. He was also awarded two contracts worth $670,300 to build three three-bedroom dwellings at Kemble and Harris Streets - two of them being mobility homes.
“Trevor Parsons is to be congratulated for employing two Aboriginal apprentices on a previous Department of Housing and Works project,” Mr Logan said.
“It is terrific that they will also be working with him on these new projects.”
Mr Logan, who visited Katanning in July and toured housing sites, said the town’s housing stock had already been upgraded significantly under the State Government’s regional revitalisation strategy.
He said seven new houses which had been built under the strategy were already occupied, another six new properties were under construction and a further 12 dwellings were refurbished during 2004-05.
The Minister, who will be in Albany for next week’s regional Cabinet meeting, also announced that the State Government was planning to use modern design and passive solar principles in new family units in Kojonup.
A $771,075 contract to build four units using passive solar design principles has been awarded to Albany-based builder J and TW Dekker. The principles include correct orientation, ample north-facing windows and north-south ventilation flows.
The two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom units in George Street were designed by Bunbury-based architect Michel Greenhalgh and are due to be finished in June 2006.
Mr Logan said the capital improvements to housing stock in Kojonup would total $3.5million over the next four years, a significant investment in the community.
In Broomehill, a $240,000 contract was awarded to Camulos FE for the construction of a three-bedroom detached house in Lathom Street.
The Minister said Camulos FE had also recently been awarded the $1.03million tender for the construction of eight detached houses and five townhouses in Albany and the $841,751 contract to build five new homes in Mount Barker.
“This new housing stock is part of our program to replace or refurbish Homeswest dwellings that are more than 30 years old, to ensure that every Western Australian has access to quality housing,” he said.
“The $12million strategy will see 800 new houses constructed in regional areas over the next four years and 200 refurbished.”
Minister's office: 9222 8950
