State launches $60m transportable housing program

The state government has called for expressions of interest for the provision of up to 200 factory-built houses to be constructed, delivered and installed in regional and remote areas of Western Australia.

An annual program is estimated to be worth at least $60million.

Housing minister Michelle Roberts said this initiative had the potential to provide high quality homes to parts of WA with the highest demand for accommodation.

"I want to stress that these will be high quality homes, not sea containers," she said.

"The homes can be constructed in Perth during the seasonal wet period in our North- West. The components of the new home will then be transported when the roads are open.

"There will also be less inconvenience to local communities.

"The state government recognises that the current expansion of the resources industry combined with the skills shortage in WA has placed significant demands on the building industry. This has led to prolonged construction times in the housing industry."

The homes will be used to meet the housing needs of Government regional officers such as teachers and police, people in remote Aboriginal communities and to increase the amount of Government rental stock in areas such as Kununurra, Fitzroy Crossing, Tom Price, Newman, Derby, Halls Creek, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Ravensthorpe and Esperance.

Expressions of interest close on February 27.