Media Release by The Hon Tanya Pibersek MP

Rudd Government delivers 83 new affordable homes in Fortitude Valley

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Arch Bevis MP, Member for Brisbane

Tanya Plibersek today visited a new housing project at Fortitude Valley in inner Brisbane that will deliver 83 new affordable units when completed in early 2011.

Brisbane Housing Company and McNabb Constructions are building 83 studio and one-bedroom units at Church Street, Fortitude Valley, under the Rudd Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

The new homes will incorporate universal design guidelines; and they have a six-star energy rating and are water efficient.

The eight floor building will also house the Australian Red Cross’s Brisbane Centre for Young People, which will run learning and development programs for young people.

Ms Plibersek said the Rudd Government’s investment in social housing is building over 19,300 new homes, repairing more than 70,000 homes and creating more than 15,000 jobs around Australia.

“The $5.6 billion social housing initiative is the single largest investment in social housing ever undertaken by an Australian Government.

“The stimulus has achieved great value for money with an average per unit cost across the nation of $270,000 – well below the $300,000 in the program guidelines.

“This new investment is one part of the Rudd Government’s program to deliver 80,000 new affordable homes across Australia by 2012.

“The new housing also contributes to the Government’s strategy to halve homelessness in Australia by 2020,” Ms Plibersek said.

Member for Brisbane Arch Bevis said that new affordable homes will be a significant boost to affordable housing and employment in inner city Brisbane.

“It is terrific that the Rudd Government is making such a big investment in affordable housing in central Brisbane.

“I also congratulate the Brisbane Housing Company for working with the Government to deliver the new affordable housing in an area of high need,” Mr Bevis said.

The Rudd Government’s investment in social housing in the federal electorate of Brisbane will deliver 421 at multiple sites across the city.

Construction is underway on 209 of the new homes.