Thousands of new jobs and social housing properties will be created through the NSW Nationals in the state government’s economic recovery strategy with an additional $183 million dedicated to fast-track more than 1,400 new homes.
This investment will provide vital new homes for the state’s most vulnerable and create 1,100 direct and indirect jobs in the construction phase.
Nationals Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the package builds on the $812 million COVID-19 social housing stimulus package announced in the 2020-21 Budget, which is expected to deliver over 800 new social homes and upgrades to around 16,500 existing properties.
“This package will support the people of NSW through jobs for the construction industry, whilst continuing to tackle hard issues like homelessness, housing affordability and providing opportunities for home ownership,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Projects in Western Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga will be accelerated, by forward funding homes for tenants to relocate into, and local businesses will be used for these local projects.
“The investment unlocks a number of projects and accelerates our capacity to deliver the right homes, in the right areas for the people who need it most.”
The package is part of the Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery strategy and includes:
• $50 million to accelerate the delivery of around 2,800 homes, including around 1,000 social homes, to be built in Western Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Coffs Harbour through Communities Plus projects, in partnership with the private sector and CHPs (Community Housing Partnerships);
• $50 million for the delivery of around 290 new social houses in partnership with community housing providers through the Community Housing Innovation Fund;
• $30 million for about 80 new small-scale social housing, primarily in regional NSW and Western Sydney;
• $20 million for new and upgraded social and affordable homes in partnership with Aboriginal CHPs through the Aboriginal Community Housing Investment Fund;
• $20 million for about 45 new homes for large Aboriginal families to support kinship living and reduce overcrowding, aligned with Closing the Gap targets so more families live in the right size homes;
• $10 million for additional Rent Choice packages to support 990 households to secure or maintain housing in the private rental market; and
• $3 million to support around 130 additional vulnerable Aboriginal families through the Services Our Way program.
