Four-year plan for redevelopment of Lockridge

22/3/96

A $35 million redevelopment of Lockridge will be the role model for similar redevelopments across the metropolitan area, Housing Minister Graham Kierath announced today.

The four-year plan for Lockridge, to be renamed Pepperwood Estate after the peppermint trees that dot the street verges, is indicative of a new wave of Government thinking on public housing.

"This is part of a move away from the big public housing estates built in the 1970s with their associated problems towards areas which contain more of a mix of socio-economic levels," he said.

"The cost of the redevelopment work will be offset by revenue from sales of land and homes.

"Streetscapes are being redesigned, entry statements constructed, new street verges made, Homeswest houses renovated for sale to private buyers and new housing lots created for sale to the private sector.

"The first stage of this redevelopment of the suburb is called Pepperwood Estate."

The estate's first land subdivision of 70 home and land packages aimed at the first home buyer market is now available.

Mr Kierath said the '70s-style buildings had been given a new lease of life with internal and external refurbishment including new floor coverings, painting, cupboards remodelled and landscaping.

"These houses offer good value with prices ranging from the low $70,000s for a three-bedroom brick home to around $50,000 for a renovated two-bedroom duplex," he said.

"The current revitalisation project for Lockridge will breathe new life into the area and reduce the heavy concentration of Homeswest rental housing in the suburb.

"The socio-economic mix of the suburb will be more varied and reflect a range of incomes and lifestyles."

Mr Noel Blandford, of Voran Consultants, managers of the redevelopment and marketing on behalf of Homeswest, said Lockridge had advantages that made it ideal for revitalisation.

"The topography of the area is attractive with undulating land, it is serviced by child care, kindergartens, health centre, senior citizens centres, existing schools and the Altone Park Recreational Centre as well as being only a five-minute drive to the Galleria Shopping Centre and 15 minutes from the city centre," he said.

Mr Kierath said the redevelopment of Lockridge was part of a plan to integrate Homeswest into many suburbs on a mix of one tenant for every nine houses.

"This mixture will mean that Homeswest is everywhere but self-effacing, because people will not immediately point to a house or unit as being that of a Homeswest tenant," he said.

The increased level of private home ownership together with new houses to be built and the redesign of the suburb will give a more modern and positive atmosphere to the suburb.

Young couple, Zoe and Paris Hatgivasiliou, first home buyers and one of the first to buy into the redevelopment, were given a ceremonial key to their new house by the Minister today.

They said they liked the neat, refurbished '70s brick house because it was only a 15-minute drive from the city, was affordable and in a new estate.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 481 21233 or 222 9595