Nine state government-owned sites are now on the market in a bid to increase the supply of social housing in Western Australia.
Nine state government-owned sites are now on the market in a bid to increase the supply of social housing in Western Australia.
The state government announced today the nine sites would be released to the market for proposals that will increase housing choices and deliver more social housing.
The release of nine sites is part of the government's housing diversity pipeline, a $2.4 billion four-year investment in social housing and homelessness.
About 3,300 new social homes are expected to be delivered as part of the pipeline.
The sites include land on Cecil Avenue in Cannington, East Street in East Fremantle, Albany Highway and Merrifield Avenue in Kelmscott, East Parade/Guildford Road in Mt Lawley, Gwenyfred Road in South Perth, Brearley Avenue in Redcliffe and Thomas Street in West Perth.
The largest of the metropolitan sites, in Kelmscott, covers about 24,000 square metres.
Only one site is located in the South West region, a 2,000 square metre piece of land on Brown Street in Busselton.
Business News recently revealed the state government also hoped to rid itself of a 27,107 square metre lot in Cockburn Central.
The land sat vacant for a decade despite an initial plan to build up to 1,200 apartments on the site and is now up for bids until the end of the month.
Housing and Lands Minister John Carey said the state government wanted the private sector to invest by encouraging alternate delivery models, new housing construction methods and financial incentives.
"Proposals are sought from the private sector and community housing providers to deliver innovative residential developments to provide more social dwellings for the most vulnerable members of our community,” he said.
"Proponents should detail specific solutions for delivering housing on these nine sites that will meet our requirement for a minimum of 20 per cent social housing across the total development.
"We are supporting new housing development through a range of measures including tax incentives, stamp duty rebates and facilitating land supply through our Housing Diversity Pipeline.”
Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said the pipeline of new developments would also ensure jobs for the construction industry when the current development boom eases.
"There is a long-term need for more housing diversity in Western Australia, and the release of these nine sites through an Expression of Interest process will help to drive development of diverse, mixed-tenure residential housing,” she said.
"Many of the sites are close to transport corridors and METRONET projects such as the soon to be opened Redcliffe Train Station, which is critical because we want to create well-connected, vibrant communities.”
The expression of interest process will close on October 25.
Opposition housing spokesman Steve Martin said the state government's plan to fix the housing issue had no substance.
"Does the Minister believe he will be swamped with offers to build social housing at a price the government can afford?," he said.
“In a market where apartment builds are struggling to get off the ground and the commencement pipeline is stuck; this announcement is oddly-timed.
“The priority should be general market housing supply, not adding complexity to the delivery of infill projects.”
Mr Martin said opportunities had been wasted over the past five years with social homes not being built when market conditions were more favourable.
