Media Release by The Hon Tanya Pibersek MP

78 new affordable rental homes for Bacchus Marsh

Joint Media Release with:

  • Catherine King MP, Member for Ballarat

Tanya Plibersek and Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King today visited the first new home at Bacchus Marsh delivered under the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

The National Rental Affordability Scheme will help build up to 50,000 new properties across Australia by 2012, which will then be rented out at a minimum 20 per cent below market rate.

In Bacchus Marsh, Ethan Affordable Housing is building 78 new rental homes after it was awarded incentives under the second round of the Scheme.

Tenants will pay 25 per cent below market rates for the two, three, four and five bedroom homes.

All tenants are low to moderate income earning families and include key workers such as a police woman, who is amongst the first to benefit from the new homes in the area.

Ms Plibersek said the Australian Government is investing more than $1 billion in the National Rental Affordability Scheme over the next four years.

“So far, 3349 incentives have been allocated to dwellings in Victoria under the first two rounds of the Scheme,” Ms Plibersek said.

“These new homes in Bacchus Marsh are a great example of the Australian and Victorian Governments working together with the building industry to deliver affordable homes.

“They are an excellent opportunity for people on low to moderate incomes struggling to find a home within their budget – including key workers like our police, nurses and teachers.

“This new construction work not only assists people to save for a home of their own, it generates jobs by providing work for builders and tradespeople, as each dwelling needs to be newly constructed.”

Ms King said a number of the new homes were ready for tenants, while others would become available over the next twelve months.

“This is a great result for the people of Bacchus Marsh, especially those struggling to save for their own home,” Ms King said.

“This area, like many across Australia, is working flat-out to survive in tough economic times.

“This program is about creating jobs and housing for those in Bacchus Marsh and the surrounding region who have been hit hardest.

“The National Rental Affordability Scheme is another example of how the Australian Government is working to boost housing stock and stimulate the local building industry during the global recession.”