Media Release by The Hon Tanya Pibersek MP

$12 million boost for affordable housing

Joint Media Release with:

  • Lin Thorp MP, Tasmanian Minister for Human Services

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments today announced that Centacare Tasmania will receive a $12 million funding package which will see 78 new housing units built across Tasmania.

The Minister for Human Services, Lin Thorp said Centacare would receive the largest funding package to be awarded for social housing to a not-for-profit organisation under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan in Tasmania.

“I am pleased to see a not-for-profit organisation receive this substantial injection of funds to improve their ability to provide much needed housing to Tasmanians,” Ms Thorp said.

“This exciting partnership will help Tasmanians currently on Housing Tasmania’s waiting list and is about getting a roof over people’s heads.”

Fifty-five new two bedroom units have been funded under the Rudd Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

The leveraging of this investment will mean that Centacare Tasmania can finance the remaining 23 units, with properties being built at Riverside, Ravenswood and St Leonards in northern Tasmania.

These properties will be managed by Centacare Tasmania and will be made available for people currently on the Housing Tasmania waiting list.

Centacare Tasmania currently provides a number of support services for Tasmanians, including Private Rental Tenancy Support Service and Centacare Tenancy Support Services.

“This project notably increases the capacity for Centacare Tasmania to help Tasmanians in need of housing assistance,” Federal Tanya Plibersek said.

“These properties will be designed to ensure they are more accessible to people who are ageing or living with disabilities.

“Each of the 55 units also will be designed to achieve a minimum 6 star energy efficiency rating.”

Ms Plibersek said the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan will see 512 new social housing properties delivered across Tasmania.

“The Rudd Government put in place economic stimulus to protect jobs during the global recession. We will continue to support local jobs in the construction industry as demand in the private sector begins to pick up during the recovery,” Ms Plibersek said.