First works under way for Kimberley social housing plan

Housing Minister Peter Tinley has announced the first maintenance contracts in the East and West Kimberley under the $319 million Social Housing Economic Recovery Package (SHERP) during community cabinet in Broome.

The package can help meet Western Australia’s social housing needs by providing 1,500 refurbished public and community homes, a maintenance program targeting 3,800 regional dwellings, and the delivery of approximately 250 new homes.

Package can support approximately 1,700 jobs with many in regional communities such as Broome, Halls Creek and Kununurra.

Housing Minister Peter Tinley said it was great to see local businesses like Kimberley Sun, CMT Building and Kununurra Maintenance Service directly benefit from government investment, which was providing a pipeline of works to improve WA's social housing stock.

“Creating and supporting employment opportunities for Western Australians is a key aim of our government's economic recovery measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

"This $319 million package offers a range of opportunities for local tradespeople, businesses and services to tender and contract for work over the next two years.

"To date, three local businesses have received maintenance work in the East Kimberley totalling $111,500, while in the West Kimberley four local businesses are undertaking work valued at $338,200.

"These contracts help provide ongoing employment for people living in the Kimberley, while also supporting communities that have been impacted by the pandemic.”

The Department of Communities is managing the rollout of the package with the maintenance program well under way and the refurbishment program about to begin. 

By August 31, more than $1.5 million in regional maintenance works for 175 properties had been awarded to 23 local contractors in WA.

The property refurbishments aim to improve liveability, sustainability and appropriateness for resident or tenant needs, where possible.

The new social housing homes constructed are going to be built to Liveable Housing Australia’s silver standard or higher to better support people with disability.

The refurbishment program was targeting deteriorated supported accommodation such as refuges, residential group homes for children in care, and supported disability accommodation.

SHERP was developed to protect and create jobs, boost industry confidence, and encourage WA prospective homebuyers to build new homes.