The Tasmanian Government is delivering our commitment to increase the supply of affordable housing in Tasmania with 127 new social houses to be built under the latest round of Community Housing Grants.
The new homes are the first of 300 made possible by the Commonwealth Housing Debt Waiver Agreement and we will look to contract the remaining 173 over the next few months.
The Government has also brought forward $14 million and provided new funding of $10 million to deliver 220 of these social houses by 2022 – a year earlier than originally planned.
That’s in addition to our $100 million investment that will construct up to 1000 new social houses over the next three years as part of our $3.1 billion construction blitz, which will be crucial in helping our economy recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
There is no doubt that housing will play a key role in our economic and social recovery, and these homes will support jobs in our vital building and construction sector while delivering safe and secure accommodation for Tasmanians.
Work is also continuing on around 250 homes currently under construction under stage 1 of Community Housing Grants, with the foundations of 18 new homes laid today in Somerset.
The homes are being constructed by Tasmanian company Beardwood and designed by Tasmanian architects Starbox, supporting local jobs on the North West Coast.
We will continue to do all we can to deliver new social and affordable housing in Tasmania as it provides safe and secure housing for Tasmanians while creating jobs and supporting our economy in its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.