From the Minister for Housing

Wednesday, 08 April 2009

Work is underway to provide repairs and maintenance to thousands of social housing dwellings across Victoria as part of the Rudd Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

The Australian and Victorian Governments have committed to deliver maintenance and repairs to 5,600 social housing dwellings across the state by July 2010 at a cost of $99.2 million.

This funding will deliver improvements to over 1600 properties that are uninhabited, hard to let, or would otherwise be lost to the social housing stock over the next two years as they fall into disrepair.

The remainder of properties will receive minor repairs and upgrades, or will benefit from improvements to common facilities and infrastructure.

Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek said the Rudd Government is taking practical steps through its Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan to cushion the impact of the global financial crisis by supporting jobs in the construction sector.

"Housing has featured strongly in the Rudd Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan - firstly through the First Home Owners Boost and then with the $6.4 billion announcement to build 20,000 social housing dwellings,” Ms Plibersek said.

"This will stimulate the building and construction industry and has been estimated to support 15,000 jobs nationally over the next two years.

"It's not just about jobs for builders and tradies but also associated industries such as building manufacturers and suppliers who help keep the Australian economy ticking over.

"In addition, there is the important social benefit of providing more affordable housing to people who need it the most.

“Increasing the stock of available social housing also helps with the Rudd Government’s aim to halve homelessness by 2020.”

Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the provision of adequate social housing was particularly important in the current global economic climate.

“This significant investment in repairs and maintenance will prolong the useable life of these units and improve amenity for tenants,” Mr Wynne said.

“Overall, the boost from this stimulus package will help create or secure more than 3000 new jobs as well as providing more affordable housing for the Victorian community.

“The stimulus package funding boost comes on top of the Brumby Government’s $580 million commitment over the past two State Budgets to improve and increase public housing stocks and tackle homelessness.

"We're looking to make housing more affordable for low income earners by building new homes across metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria's regional centres.”

Today’s announcement was made at 38-44 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy a former rooming house owned by Yarra Community Housing. Thanks to $2.1 million from the funding announced today, a project to remodel a dilapidated property to a modern singles facility with 19-studio apartments will now get underway and be completed by 30 June 2010.

For more information on the social housing plan, visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs’ website, www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/housing/nbjp_factsheet.htm