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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 6304 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 25 June 2020 by Mr V.A. Catania

Question Directed to the: Minister for Housing
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to the $1.7 billion of measures introduced by the State Government in response to COVID-19, and in particular the $319 million in social housing packages, and I ask:
(a) How much of the $319 million has been spent to date;
(b) How much has been spent in Metropolitan Perth and in regional areas? Please provide breakdowns according to Development Commission regions; and
(c) If the full amount has not been spent, why not and when is it expected to be spent?

Answered on 18 August 2020

The McGowan State Government’s Social Housing Economic Recovery Package is a stimulus package to aid the State’s recovery from COVID-19 and support some of the most vulnerable members of our community. This package will provide $319 million in funding for approximately 250 new social or affordable housing dwellings, refurbishments to 1,500 public and supported residential housing and maintenance to 3,800 regional social housing properties. This is the largest housing maintenance and refurbishment program in our State’s history. It is estimated the delivery of the Social Housing Economic Recovery Package will support approximately 1,700 jobs for Western Australians living across the state.

(a) As at 31 July 2020, $302,821 has been awarded for regional maintenance works across 56 properties. Refurbishment works are on track to commence in August and new builds are scheduled to commence in September 2020. 
     
     To ensure jobs are created quickly, Communities is currently using its existing procurement levers including its Design and Construct panel, as well as using its Head Maintenance Contractors to issue refurbishment and maintenance
     works.

     Communities is currently establishing a new Design and Construct and/or Refurbishment Panel, and is also working with its Head Maintenance Contractors to ensure new local trades have greater opportunities to quote for works.

(b) Communities is working to finalise the metropolitan/regional breakdowns of each of the Social Housing Economic Recovery Package’s streams of work.

      It is expected around 75% of new builds will be delivered in metropolitan (including Peel), with around 25% in regional WA.

      It is expected around 70% of refurbishment spend will occur in metropolitan (including Peel), with around 30% of refurbishment spend to occur in regional areas.

      100% of maintenance spend will occur in regional areas.

(c)  The budget allocated to the Social Housing Economic Recovery Package will be spent as works are undertaken throughout the financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22.