Site works have begun on Orr Street where the first of 16 new public housing homes will be built in Mount Gambier.
Premier Peter Malinauskas visited the site on Friday, where old Housing SA properties had been demolished to make way for the new homes.
The 16 homes will be among the first of 400 new public housing homes to be built across the state under the South Australian Government’s promised $177.5m Public Housing Improvement Program over the next four years.
“We know we need more housing throughout the state but I think that is particularly true here in Mount Gambier,” Premier Malinauskas said.
“We are committed to putting more public housing stock into the system to have a positive impact on the market, particularly the rental market.”
Mount Gambier builders Empak Homes won a tender to build 10 of the 16 homes, a business which employs 16 local people and engages approximately 300 local contractors.
Premier Malinauskas said four high-quality homes would be established at the Orr Street site, which will be a combination of two and three bedrooms.
‘It stimulates the local economy but gets us more stock into the system as quickly as possible,” he said.
The Orr Street build will reportedly be completed within the next eight months and the Premier said deciding who would be housed would be determined on the basis of need.
Premier Malinauskas said the government had increased funding to homelessness services throughout the state to provide a short-term solution to assist with homelessness.In addition to the 400 new homes, 350 existing homes will undergo significant renovations to bring them up to standard and 3000 will receive maintenance to make them more comfortable for tenants.
“Those renovations vary from site to site but we have got situations where things as basic as leaks, homes leaking, not being able to accommodate people,” Premier Malinauskas said.
“We can get a lot of bang for our buck and put more stock in the system just by fixing things as basic as leaks in a roof.
“There are also other issues around basic amenities in bathrooms that have completely been dilapidated so we are investing in bringing those stock online, but it does vary from property to property.”
The government expects an average cost of $70,000 per upgrade for a total investment of almost $25m across 350 homes.
Upgrades will include at least one new wet area such as a kitchen or bathroom along with other major works and the investment will prevent homes from sitting empty during a housing crisis.
Human Services Minister Nat Cook said it was the government’s aim and the aim of the Housing SA Authority to ensure South Australians had safe and quality public housing options.
Empak Homes Operations Manager Heath Mitchell said as a third-generation residential builder and land developer, Empak Homes recognised that housing comes in all shapes, sizes and styles.
“As a community minded organisation, it would be remiss of us to focus on the private housing sector, without also placing time and effort into the social housing sector,” Mr Mitchell said.
“We commend Minister Cook and the South Australian Housing Authority for their proactive approach, in seeking to address social housing issues specific to the City of Mount Gambier, with the construction of these 10 dwellings.”
