The Tasmanian Government’s construction blitz will underpin $3.1 billion in construction value and support around 15,000 jobs, fuelling our building and construction sector and boosting the supply of social and affordable housing across the State.
Our building and construction sector played a vital role in building our economy into one of the strongest in the nation, and it will play a vital role as we work our way back and recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
We will allocate $100 million to deliver up to 1000 new social houses under new agreements with Community Housing Providers and bring forward $14 million and provide new funding of $10 million to deliver 220 new social houses by 2022 – a year earlier than planned.
That’s in addition to broadening the eligibility of the existing $20,000 First Home Owner’s building grant, to owner occupiers who contract to build in 2020, which will increase building and construction work and add to housing stock across the State. Combined with the Federal Government’s $25,000 grant, this makes Tasmania the best place to build a house right now with the opportunity to secure $45,000 in assistance.
This package is a game-changer for our building and construction sector and will create jobs when they are needed the most, with far-reaching benefits across the entire supply chain, while also delivering more social and affordable housing for those who need it.
It will add to the work already underway as part of our Affordable Housing Action Plan, with 400 houses built in the 12 months to April and around 250 currently under construction as well as several other significant projects.
There is no stronger supporter of Tasmania’s building and construction sector than the Tasmanian Government, and the record investment announced today will play a pivotal role in rebuilding a stronger Tasmania.