- Tenders to go out this month for Stage 2 of the Albany Affordable Student Accommodation Project
- Strong focus on local procurement to provide a shot in the arm for Albany building sector
- $16 million student housing project to attract and retain skilled young people in the Great Southern region
The McGowan Government is providing a shot in the arm for Albany's building sector, with tenders to be released for the $16 million Stage 2 Affordable Student Accommodation Project this month.
A 40-bed accommodation facility will be built in the Albany central business district, available to students attending local higher education institutes.
Stage 2 of the project is supported by $10.997 million from the McGowan Government, with $1 million from project proponent Advance Housing and an in-kind contribution through the Department of Education valued at $4 million.
Advance Housing will start a tender process this month for construction of the facilities at the old Albany primary school site on Serpentine Road.
The tender process will align with the WA Industry Participation Strategy to provide local businesses with more opportunities to compete for State Government contracts.
It follows the completion and commissioning of Stage 1 near the UWA Albany Centre in Stirling Terrace, including self-contained units providing accommodation for up to 20 undergraduate and post-graduate tertiary students.
As noted by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Affordable student accommodation is an essential factor if the Great Southern region is to continue to develop as an attractive place to study, work and live.
"We want to maximise opportunities for local businesses to provide local jobs as we deliver on this project through the WA Industry Participation Strategy.
"Our Government is 100 per cent committed to local procurement and local jobs, and this project will be a stimulus to the building and construction sector in Albany."
As noted by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
"The project aligns with UWA's ambition to grow within the Albany CBD and this infrastructure will address the current lack of centrally located student accommodation.
"These facilities will also provide accommodation for students attending other higher education institutes in the region, including Southern Regional TAFE.
"We expect these first-class accommodation facilities will attract full-time students from the Great Southern region, elsewhere in Australia and from overseas."
As noted by Albany MLA Peter Watson:
"This project will provide a much-needed boost to our local construction industry in Albany at a time when builders, sub-contractors and suppliers are doing it tough.
"Doing whatever is needed to provide local jobs will always be my priority so that we can keep our economy strong.
"It's another step to Albany becoming a regional university and education hub that will service students throughout the Great Southern."
