More affordable housing in WA

The Rudd Government today announced a $22.9 million investment in Western Australia to unlock housing supply and bringing new land to market quicker.

Nine housing projects from Mandurah to Broome will now have reduced planning and infrastructure costs.

The $22.9 million investment will save West Australian home buyers an average of over $16,000 on 1,323 new homes and housing lots, and will bring more than 1,871 lots forward up to two years faster than would otherwise have been the case.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement today at Armadale where 59 home buyers will save almost $30,000 as a direct result of a new $1.75 million project. The homes will be sold to low and moderate income earners for under $300,000.

The funding will be used by the City of Armadale Council to relocate powerlines, construct roads, drains and water, power, sewer and gas services in Armadale’s Newhaven development.

The successful WA projects under Round Two of the Housing Affordability Fund are:

• $1.75 million to the City of Armadale’s Newhaven Town Centre Affordable Housing Precinct to assist in the relocation of existing power infrastructure to enable development in the Newhaven Town Centre, delivering savings of over $29,500 to eligible purchasers of 59 dwellings.
• $2 million to the Western Australian Land Authority for the Mandurah Junction project for civil works, including bulk earthworks and road works. This will deliver $36,000 savings to eligible purchasers of 55 vacant residential lots.
• $3.4 million to the Western Australian Housing Authority’s Beachlands Crowther Street Precinct for sewage infrastructure, delivering savings of $34,000 to eligible purchasers of 100 vacant residential lots.
• $3.7 million to the Western Australian Housing Authority’s Harrisdale Green Sustainable Village, to provide for the extension of stormwater drainage and water, sewer and power mains, delivering savings of $16,081 to eligible purchasers of 157 vacant residential lots and 72 two- and three-bedroom dwellings.
• $1.5 million to the City of Rockingham’s Baldivis Town Centre Affordable Housing Project to construct Nairn Drive in Settlers Hill. This project will deliver $30,000 savings to eligible purchasers of 50 dwellings.
• $4.5 million to the Western Australian Land Authority’s Broome North project for the early commencement of culverts, other drainage, road works and power installation, delivering savings of over $18,500 to eligible purchasers of 242 dwellings.
• $1.9 million to the Western Australian Housing Authority’s Golden Bay Infrastructure-Early Lot Release for a sewer extension that will enable the stage 1 development to be brought forward. The project has a development potential of about 2,100 dwellings, and funding will deliver minimum savings of over $3,500 for 528 dwellings.
• $4 million to the Town of Kwinana’s Medina Neighbourhood Centre to develop a new and refurbished community hub for the suburb of Medina, delivering savings of between $42,000 and $52,000 to 60 eligible purchasers.
• $124,000 to the Shire of Serpentine – Jarrahdale to reform planning policies and procedures. This project is expected to benefit 600 dwellings in the next twelve months, and 3,000 over the next five years through timely assessment and approval of development applications.

The Rudd Government is investing $512 million nationwide in the Housing Affordability Fund to reduce planning and infrastructure costs in new housing developments.

37 projects shared in around $120 million under Round One of the Housing Affordability Fund and the savings generated are already being passed onto to homebuyers.