Opening of first cluster housing development for disabled people in SW suburbs

1/2/95

Housing Minister Kevin Prince today officially opened the first cluster housing development for people with disabilities in Perth's south-western suburbs.

The five units in Aldridge Way Brentwood - called Melville Mews - are a purpose-built development designed to meet the needs of people living with cerebral palsy.

They have been built under a Homeswest program to provide quality housing for people with disabilities.

"With public sector housing today there is more and more emphasis on providing accommodation that best suits people's needs and the focus is on providing for special needs groups which includes seniors, Aboriginal people, singles and people with disabilities," Mr Prince said.

The Minister said the Melville Mews project was evidence of what community and government could achieve by working together.

"What many would have seen as only a dream has become a reality," Mr Prince said, paying tribute to the parents, community groups and government agencies who had made the project possible," he said.

"We stand here today thanks to the vision and persistence of Terry and Dorothy Baker, who wanted to see their daughter Debra - who faces the challenges of living with cerebral palsy - assured of an independent lifestyle in a safe environment.

"With this goal in mind, they set about to meet the housing needs of their daughter and in doing so involved the parents of other young people."

The five specially designed, two-bedroom units will allow five young people with cerebral palsy the chance to live in their own homes.

"This is the first cluster housing development in the south-west metropolitan corridor under the Homeswest administered Community Housing Program, specifically designed to meet the needs of people with a disability," Mr Prince said.

"This is about independence and the right to live life within the community."

Mr Prince said close to $6 million would be spent this financial year under the Community Housing Program on projects from Esperance to the Murchison.

Melville Mews was designed by architect Richard Hammond and constructed by J Corp at a cost of $642,000.

The units were designed in consultation with the Cerebral Palsy Association and the City of Melville, which will administer the complex.

Media contact:  Paul Plowman 222 9595