The McGowan Government has awarded its first contract under its $319 million Social Housing Economic Recovery Package to a Bunbury-based manufacturing business.
Housing Minister Peter Tinley visited Bunbury Glass Service today to meet the workers who are delivering the $25,000 contract to fabricate screen doors for public housing properties in the regional centre.
The $319 million social housing package will refurbish 1,500 public and community houses, target 3,800 regional dwellings with a rolling maintenance service and deliver about 250 new homes to help meet Western Australia's social housing needs.
The package provides a range of opportunities for local trades, businesses and services to tender and contract for available work, and represents a significant government investment in a pipeline of activity aimed at supporting the housing sector during the next 24 months.
The Department of Communities is planning the rollout of the package, starting with the maintenance program. The refurbishments and new builds will start in the following months.
For more information, visit https://www.communities.wa.gov.au/projects/social-housing-economic-recovery-package-sherp
As stated by Housing Minister Peter Tinley:
"This is the first contract awarded through our $319 million social housing package which will see maintenance works carried out at 3,800 regional homes over the next two years.
"This package is first and foremost aimed at protecting existing jobs in the residential construction industry and local businesses like Bunbury Glass Service.
"COVID-19 has had a profound impact on our economy and that is why the McGowan Government has embarked upon the biggest housing maintenance and refurbishment program in WA history.
"Estimates indicate that the $319 million package will support approximately 1,700 jobs - many of them in regional communities like Bunbury."
As stated by Bunbury MLA Don Punch:
"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the most vulnerable in our community and I am very pleased to see the first work commence under this package.
"Creating and supporting employment opportunities, especially for local tradies and businesses that may not ordinarily work with the Department of Communities, is a key aim of the McGowan Government's economic recovery measures.
"What's significant about this particular contract is that it will help provide ongoing employment for a person with disability, an apprentice, a trainee, and two people under the age of 25.
"All of these people work and live in Bunbury, so the work is helping support the community and local economy."
