Major revitalisation scheme planned for Nulsen area

22/5/96

Homeswest is planning a major revitalisation program for the Nulsen area that is part of a State-wide modernisation strategy for older suburbs with heavy concentrations of public housing, Housing Minister Graham Kierath said.

Already under way in Kwinana and Lockridge in the Perth metropolitan area, the strategy consists of reduction of Homeswest presence, demolition of selected properties, upgrading of others, new streetscaping and boosts to community facilities.

Mr Kierath said estates with a concentration of public housing were a 'planning disaster'.

"We want to get away from too much concentration of public housing in one area and towards a more balanced spread of Homeswest rental properties in a ratio of one Homeswest to nine privately owned homes," he said.

"The social profile of Nulsen will gradually change under this strategy which will see a reduction of Homeswest presence in the area from 45 per cent to 15 or 20 per cent over the next five years."

Up to 110 Homeswest rental properties will be upgraded and sold to private buyers under the improvement strategy.

Presently there are 193 such rental properties in the area.

Mr Kierath said he was aware the Nulsen area had experienced a range of social problems over the years.

"These problems were aggravated by the area's concentration of people on a similar socio-economic level due to the density of Homeswest rental housing," he said.

The redevelopment changes proposed for the area will change the social profile of Nulsen and address the problem of concentrating disadvantaged groups in one area.

Mr Kierath said $165,000 has been provisionally approved in 1996-97 for the revitalisation of 22 houses in the estate.

As part of the redevelopment process, Homeswest rented some of its properties on a short-term basis to private tenants, so they could be resumed on short notice for upgrading and work associated with the redevelopment.

The properties were managed by private agents. The alternative of leaving the homes empty was not considered practical, as they would quickly become a target for vandals.

These older style, fibro-clad houses, built some 30 years ago, were still considered lettable.

Homeswest carried out minimum maintenance work on the properties to ensure they were retained in a safe and liveable condition.

Urgent maintenance was undertaken at the request of tenants.

This financial year, $197,147 was allocated to the Esperance Branch office of Homeswest for repairs and maintenance.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 481 2133