THE Tasmanian government will redevelop the Springvale Hostel site in Hobart into residential homes, including social housing, after a transfer of the 3,700 sqm site between departments.
The New Town site housed 65 boarders from a range of schools each year prior to COVID, but the pandemic heavily reduced the number of students and it was shut down at the end of last year. It was deemed surplus to the needs of the Department for Education, Children and Young People and has now been acquired by Homes Tasmania.
Consultations had taken place between the owner and a range of other accommodation providers, including Collegiate, Hutchins, TasTafe, homestay accommodation, Colony47 and the University of Tasmania, Education Minister Roger Jaensch said in August.
“Homes Tasmania is now working with its architects to determine the most suitable use for the site, which will include safe, secure social housing to meet the needs of our most vulnerable,” said Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing, Guy Barnett.
A number or proportion of social housing units in any future development has not been specified.
“Consultation will occur as the project progresses.”
Minister Barnett said the site is “ideally located for housing, being close to services, education and work opportunities”.
“Developing this site is consistent with our Greater Hobart Plan, activating urban renewal and redevelopment along the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor.
“It provides a great opportunity for mixed-tenure and density infill to meet the growing demand for housing diversity, such as townhouses and apartments, while also providing housing for our vulnerable.
Social housing plan on track
This project will form part of the Rockliff government’s 10-year, $1.5 billion housing package. The plan aims to deliver 10,000 new social and affordable homes and units by 2032.
The government said it is tracking well to reach its target of 1,500 social and affordable homes by June, with over 800 of these homes completed as at the end of February.
On Monday, the government turned the first sod on a new 11-lot subdivision in Devonport, formerly home to the Devonport Bowls and Croquet Club. The government purchased the site for residential housing when the two clubs moved to a new facility in Spreyton and merged with the Devonport Golf Club.
At the federal level, the Labor government is trying to push through parliament its plans to deliver 30,000 new social and affordable rental homes over five years as part of the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund. The government will need to rely on the support of the Greens and two other Senate crossbenchers, such as Jacquie Lambie and Jacquie Lambie Network Senator Tammy Tyrrell, who this week said would support the fund if 1,200 of the homes were built in Tasmania.
