The Minns Labor Government is delivering twelve new social homes in Wagga Wagga using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) which will be ready for tenants to move in from June.
Construction on six dual-occupancy houses got underway in March and on-site builders are now assembling the precast concrete walls, installing the roof and flooring, and finalising the internal fitout.
The pre-cast concrete walls were built in a factory in Sydney and will form the foundation of twelve new homes for people on the social housing waitlist in Wagga Wagga.
The Minns Labor Government is leaning in to innovation to fast-track the construction of new homes in regional areas, delivering MMC homes in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Lake Macquarie and now Wagga Wagga.
The pre-manufactured walling is a 'kit of parts' approach which allows housing components to be built off-site and then assembled on site. This reduces weather delays and onsite inefficiencies, delivering homes up to 20 per cent faster than traditional construction, without compromising on quality.
These new homes come amid subdivision work starting on the historic Tolland Renewal Project, a project that will deliver around 490 new homes in the regional city over the next decade.
The subdivision works for Stage 1A will pave the way for the first homes to be built by upgrading road and footpath networks, and installing water, sewage, electrical and telecommunication access for 28 lots.
Subdivision works are expected to be completed later this year, allowing housing construction to begin in early 2027.
Earlier this year, twelve new social homes were completed ahead of time, adding to 26 other new homes delivered in the Duke of Kent Park precinct to assist with the redevelopment of Tolland. 36 more homes are on the way in the precinct and are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Housing construction in Wagga Wagga is proof of what is possible under the Minns Labor Government's $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program, the largest investment in housing and homelessness in the state's history.
More than 3,500 new social and affordable homes have already been delivered, including 1,350 in regional areas since April 2023.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:
"We're confronting the homelessness crisis head-on by building more homes, more quickly. In some cases that looks like installing high-quality modular homes in a matter of weeks, in other cases we're tackling large-scale renewals like Tolland that will deliver nearly 500 new homes.
"We know the housing crisis cannot be solved overnight but we are throwing everything at it. What we're doing here in Wagga Wagga is a perfect example of that vision, but it's part of a much bigger picture.
"We committed to building 8,400 new social and affordable homes in NSW and we are honouring that - it's not a vague promise, it's a pledge backed by billions of dollars of investment and practical plans for new homes in every corner of our state."
Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said:
"We know that to ease the housing crisis we need to build more homes, and modular housing is proving to be one effective way of delivering more homes in a shorter time.
"The success of this approach has been demonstrated in Wagga and is a welcome step towards easing the crisis in the short term, while in the medium term the hundreds of new homes to be delivered under the Tolland project will be an important boost to housing stocks, especially in the social and affordable categories.
"More needs to be done in the long term, of course, and I look forward to continuing to work with the government - with a focus on Wagga - to tackling barriers such as streamlining development processes, addressing workforce and industry capability, and adopting innovative approaches to building more homes, more quickly."
CEO of Argyle Housing Carolyn Doherty said:
"Every additional home delivered means more opportunities to support individuals, families, older residents and vulnerable members of the community who are struggling to find safe and secure housing.
"The ability to deliver quality homes faster through modular construction is a positive step forward for the Riverina and demonstrates the kind of innovation needed to address the current housing crisis."
