Media Release by The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP

Innovative Gillard Government projects recognised nationally

Five Gillard Government-supported projects have been nominated for tomorrow night’s 2012 Property Council of Australia awards, Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor said today.

Mr O’Connor congratulated the nominees for their outstanding work and commitment to delivering more affordable housing and support for vulnerable Australians across the country.

“We understand that shortages of affordable housing are affecting many families and workers around Australia, and have invested more than $20 billion in tackling affordability,” Mr O’Connor said.

“We are committed to giving all Australians access to a secure and affordable home, and more importantly, keeping them connected to the community.

“Projects like these deserve national recognition for their innovative approach to addressing housing and homelessness.”

The five projects nominated are:

The Best Residential Development Award

  • Stella Orion Apartments in Success, Western Australia, supported with $23.9 million under the Government’s Social Housing Initiative, comprises 78 one and two bedroom apartments, providing affordable and attractive housing options for people on low incomes.
  • Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing project, Victoria, supported by a $12.5 million Gillard Government investment under the A Place to Call Home program. This project provides housing for 131 supported tenants and affordable housing for 30 others. Through this project, 65 tenants at risk of or experiencing homelessness have been housed with on-site support.

The Best Master Planned Communities Award

  • Bonner Residential Estate, ACT, supported by $3.5 million under the Housing Affordability Fund to deliver water main and subdivision works. Under four stages, 330 subsidised house and land packages will be delivered and sold with savings passed on to low and moderate income households for purchase.

 The Award for Innovation

  • The Lochiel Park Green Village, South Australia, supported under with $250,000 under the Housing Affordability Fund to establish an onsite stormwater detention basin from houses and streets in the development. Savings will be passed on to purchasers for 18 dwellings, with a further five dwellings brought forward.
  • The Nicholson in East Coburg, Victoria, supported by the National Rental Affordability Scheme and Social Housing Initiative. This project has been transformed into a vibrant, mixed-use community thanks to high quality, sustainable design for 199 new homes, 58 of these are funded under the Social Housing Initiative and 31 homes are supported under the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

And finally, the Western Australian Government has been nominated for the Government Leadership Award for its commitment under the Social Housing Initiative, providing much needed accommodation to many disadvantaged Australians.

Under this Initiative, the Gillard Government has contributed $590.2 million to the Western Australian Government to deliver 1,832 new homes and repair and maintain more than 10,000 existing properties.

The Western Australian Government has been recognised for delivering more homes than originally forecast: 2,083 new homes  – 251 above expectations.

“I want to congratulate all the nominees for this year’s Property Council of Australia awards, and wish them the very best for tomorrow night,” Mr O’Connor said.

Winners will be announced in Sydney on 26 May, 2012.

For more information on the Social Housing Initiative, the National Rental Affordability Scheme, the Housing Affordability Scheme, and A Place to Call Home program, visit www.fahcsia.gov.au.