Home handover milestone in the Pilbara

A panel beating firm has become the first small business in South Hedland to be allocated a Department of Housing property for one of its employees under the Royalties for Regions-supported Service Workers' Housing Intervention Package.

  • First service worker house allocated in South Hedland
  • Royalties for Regions funded program targets housing shortage

A panel beating firm has become the first small business in South Hedland to be allocated a Department of Housing property for one of its employees under the Royalties for Regions-supported Service Workers' Housing Intervention Package.


Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls today handed over the keys to Lesley Wood of Advance Panel and Paint, who secured the home for employee Adrian Robertson and his family.


Ms Wood submitted an application for accommodation through the Department of Housing's Registration of Interest process which closed in July.


"This is another important milestone reached under the initiative which aims to provide housing at affordable rates for service workers in the town," Mr Grylls said.


"High rents in Hedland are putting pressure on small businesses and their workers. The Service Workers' Intervention Package will provide much-needed accommodation for employees who may have otherwise been forced to relocate," he said. 


Mr Grylls said under the package, a further 29 dwellings would be ready for occupation by mid-September and another 15 would become available in early October.


Housing Minister Terry Redman said the housing shortage in Hedland had an impact on businesses and local workers employed across a range of industries including retail, tourism, health, education and hospitality.


"The department is committed to delivering a further 80 newly constructed dwellings by the end of the year to help ease the housing shortage in the town.  Five of these three-bedroom, two-bathroom units were delivered to South Hedland in early August," Mr Redman said.


"In addition to the 125 houses to be delivered under this package, the construction of the 293-unit Osprey Service Workers' Village in South Hedland will also get under way this month.


"The project has received $20.5million from the State Government's Royalties for Regions initiative."

      Fact File

  • First house allocated to service worker at 11 Minilya Link, Koombana, South Hedland
  • By 2017, the Govt will have delivered more than 7,000 new dwellings in Hedland
  • Royalties for Regions administered by Dept of Regional Development and Lands

Housing Minister's office - 6552 6700