More social housing is on the way for the East Kimberley, with construction to soon begin on five new homes in Kununurra.
The five homes are among 16 new properties at various stages of planning and construction in the East Kimberley, including 10 in Kununurra, four in Wyndham and two in Halls Creek.
Of the 10 new homes being delivered in Kununurra, three are nearing completion and are expected to be complete by April, five are about to start construction and another two are in the final stages of design.
Construction on the two new homes in Halls Creek is expected to begin soon, and will be built by MGC Building and Maintenance which is based in Kununurra. The two new homes are in addition to a four-bedroom, two-bathroom property that Kullarri Building recently completed in Halls Creek.
The four homes to be built in Wyndham are in the final stages of design.
The McGowan Government is investing $2.1 billion in social housing over the coming years, which includes a $522 million Social Housing Investment Fund set aside for the delivery of new housing from 2023, when the construction boom is expected to begin easing.
The construction of new housing in the region comes on the back of a $25 million injection to the East Kimberley Transitional Housing Program in 2018, which saw 50 new homes built in the region, including 30 in Kununurra, 14 in Halls Creek and six in Wyndham. Construction of the last of the 50 homes was recently completed in Kununurra.
The East Kimberley Transitional Housing Program provides housing and a range of wraparound supports to Aboriginal people who aspire to own their own home or live in a private rental. There are a number of successful transitional housing programs being delivered across the Kimberley.
The McGowan Government is also progressing the $20 million Kununurra Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation with a tender recently released for an architect to design the facility.
The Kununurra ASSA facility is expected to accommodate approximately 100 Aboriginal visitors to the town and provide guests with access to culturally informed, affordable, safe, and secure accommodation, helping to avoid rough sleeping and overcrowding of homes.
The Kununurra ASSA will also provide local employment opportunities both during and after construction.
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
"The 16 homes currently being delivered in the East Kimberley are a direct result of our record investments in social housing.
"We know there is a heated construction market in Western Australia and across the country, but I am seeking to deliver homes as fast as possible using a variety of methods including modular construction, timber framed homes and spot purchasing.
"With a significant amount of investment still in the pipeline, we expect to see more housing delivered in the East Kimberley in the future.
"I am very aware of the housing challenges we face and that is why we are significantly boosting housing supply through measures.
"This includes a more than $2 billion direct investment in new social housing and Government Regional Officer Housing, increasing regional residential development through our $116 million Regional Land Booster Package and helping thousands of Western Australians build homes with our $20,000 Building Bonus Grant."
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"It's fantastic to see our Government's record investments in social housing having a direct impact in the East Kimberley.
"We do face some significant challenges when it comes to housing delivery, but we are getting on with the job with a number of housing projects continuing to progress including the Kununurra Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation.
"Not only will these projects provide a critical boost to housing supply, they're also delivering great outcomes for local Aboriginal people through more training and employment opportunities."
