20/3/02
The State Government is making good progress with its affordable rental housing developments in Perth's suburbs, Housing and Works Minister Tom Stephens said today.
"Across the board, the Department of Housing and Works (DHW) is making inroads to provide housing for senior citizens, low-income families, and people with disabilities in areas close to amenities," Mr Stephens said.
"In particular, DHW has begun work on one of Fremantle's biggest affordable rental housing projects.
"It is spending $14million to transform the massive Fremantle Cold Stores site into a showcase precinct, using ideas from successful group housing developments around the world.
"A total of 101 units will be constructed in two and three-storey buildings, a mix of aged and family accommodation, one-bedroom units and units for people with disabilities.
"In Claremont, consultation with residents of the Westlea apartments have resulted in the evolution of a design for plans to provide a further 12 senior units at this very desirable location."
Mr Stephens said that further north, old Scarborough High School land was being targeted by DHW for nine seniors' units, and discussions were progressing with LandCorp to obtain a site.
"Homeswest is also responding to demographic changes in Doubleview, Innaloo and Scarborough and has major redevelopment programs under way," he said.
"Traditionally a long-term property owner in these suburbs, Homeswest is now renewing its 1950s housing stock, while creating additional housing opportunities for private home owners through land subdivision.
"These older suburbs, where the original dwellings were typically for families, are now - through the virtues of redevelopment - catering for different household types, especially seniors."
Mr Stephens said new accommodation for seniors was also being planned for East Perth, Wanneroo and Greenfields, with projects at the tendering stage in Rockingham and Beeliar.
Architectural designs were being finalised for 20 seniors' units and five family houses in a new subdivision adjacent to the Belgrade Park retirement village on Dundebar Road, Wanneroo. Designs for a further 25 seniors' units on Kookaburra Drive, Greenfields, were also being finalised.
A project of 18 seniors' units in Rae Road, Rockingham and two large seniors' projects at Beeliar would go to tender shortly.
Mr Stephens said there were other plans in the pipeline for smaller projects to provide community housing for people with disabilities.
Peppered through the suburbs, these included a development for the Leukaemia Foundation in Shenton Park; a purpose-built house on Stirling Highway, North Fremantle; and a community disability housing project in Subiaco Road, Subiaco.
Meanwhile, negotiations were continuing with the Subiaco City Council and Subiaco Redevelopment Authority for DHW to access suitable affordable rental housing sites.
Mr Stephens said discussions with the Western Australian Government Railways and the Department for Planning and Infrastructure had also resulted in DHW identifying various possibilities to use surplus railway land for affordable rental housing.
Minister's office: 9213 6500
