Findings of GEHA survey - North-West

20/10/98

A State-wide survey conducted earlier this year by the Government Employees' Housing Authority (GEHA) will lead to a major innovation in housing management for Western Authority Government employees.

Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames said the aim of the survey was to enable GEHA to do a stock take of Government housing.

"It is important for the authority to be able to determine the condition of the State's housing stock and to identify and prioritise maintenance," Dr Hames said.

"GEHA tenants strongly endorsed the survey, with an oustanding response rate of 73 per cent."

GEHA currently owns and leases a total of 4,326 properties in WA. In the North-West, the authority has properties in the following towns:

Karratha - 321 properties

Port Hedland - 313 properties

Nullagine - six properties

Marble Bar - 12 properties

Roebourne - 38 properties

Tom Price - 48 properties

Newman - 79 properties

Paraburdoo - 20 properties

Millstream - five properties

Dampier - 12 properties

Pannawonica - one property

Onslow - 19 properties

Newman - 79 properties

"The survey measured information about the house, tenant satisfaction, tenant preferences and priorities and tenant and household characteristics. Results showed 30 per cent of the authority's housing stock requires significant maintenance," Dr Hames said.

"This information will be used to significantly improve the maintenance and management of housing and provide GEHA with a sound basis for prioritising its capital and maintenance programs."

The survey also showed:

·      people aged 26-35 years represent the largest group (39 per cent) of the authority's tenants;

·      46 per cent of GEHA tenants are families with children;

·      25 per cent of tenants intend to stay in GEHA accommodation for four or more years;

·      60 per cent of tenants are satisfied with their houses; and -

·      Education and Police employees are the largest GEHA client groups, representing more than 60 per cent of the total.

Dr Hames said the survey results would also assist the authority to identify housing to be replaced, with some 600 homes over a three-year period.

"This follows a recent Cabinet decision which endorsed a three year-capital works program at a cost of $57.2 million for additional and replacement GEHA housing throughout the State," he said.

The Minister said it was the first time such a survey had been undertaken by the authority.

"GEHA is to be congratulated for pro-actively seeking information from its tenants in order to gain a clear picture of the state of its entire stock," he said.

Dr Hames said the authority was committed to providing quality housing to Government employees and would now begin a program to implement its maintenance and stock replacement programs.

Contact: Caroline Lacy (08)9424 7450

Homeswest; Stephanie Wood, Public Affairs on 9222 4500 or 041 9910 847 (a/h).