THE ACT government has completed nine public housing units in Canberra’s West Belconnen.
The homes have been developed under the ACT government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing program, which has seen more than 475 homes built and a further 577 under design or construction since the launch of the program in July 2019. The program is targeting delivery 1,400 renewed or new public homes by mid-2027.
Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry said the new homes in the north-western suburbs add to the category of public housing in highest demand, with about 80% of all housing applicants able to be housed into two-bedroom dwellings.
“It’s important to us that public housing doesn’t present further barriers for the people who need it,” Berry said.
“These new homes are complete with Class C adaptable features, which make them ideal for people with different mobility and accessibility needs and supports tenants to age in place.”
The units have been delivered close to a school, shops, and transport.
They also have a 7-star energy rating, which Berry said offers greater comfort and increased affordability for tenants. In Western Australia, ShelterWA is calling on the government to retrofit the state’s 42,000 social housing dwellings by 2030, estimating tenants could save a combined $50 million on their energy bills every year by living in more energy-efficient homes.
Completion of the West Belconnen units comes just a few days after the opening of a 30-unit public housing development in Tuggeranong, in the national capital’s south. Similarly, they are Class C adaptable, and were completed with “above-standard” energy efficiency ratings.
In February, the ACT government released a final place plan for the East Lake precinct, in The Causeway area, where land will be rezoned for as many as 1,200 to 1,500 apartments. Existing public housing blocks behind the train station are occupied by around 80 public housing tenants who the government says will be able to move into new homes as part of the development. The precinct may also include a new Canberra train station.
