The NSW Government has announced an additional $183M to fast track more than 1,400 social housing properties, but The Entrance MP, David Mehan, is disappointed that there seems to be no new funding for the Central Coast.
NSW Treasurer, Matt Kean, said the investment would provide vital new homes for the state’s most vulnerable, including in areas hit hardest by the COVID pandemic such as regional areas and in Sydney’s west, as well as create 1,100 jobs in the construction phase.
“It’s a drop in the bucket of what is needed, however, any additional funding for social housing is always welcome,” Mehan said.
“I am disappointed that there seems to be no new spending on the Central Coast where we have more than 200 less social housing dwellings than what there was 10 years ago and more than 3,000 people on the housing wait list.”
The new funding package will provide $50M for 2,800 homes in Western Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Coffs Harbour; $50M for 290 social houses in partnership with community housing providers; $30M for 80 new small-scale social housing primarily in Western Sydney and regional NSW; $40M for new and upgraded homes in partnership with Aboriginal community housing providers; $3M to support about 130 vulnerable Aborigines through the Services Our Way program and $10M to support 990 household to secure or maintain housing in the private rental market.
Minister for Housing, Melinda Pavey, said this investment unlocked a number of projects and accelerated delivery of the right homes in the right areas for the people who needed them most.
“This package will support the people of NSW through jobs for the construction industry, while continuing to tackle hard issues like homelessness, housing affordability and providing opportunities for home ownership,” she said.
Sue Murray