Ministers launch social housing in the south
At Oakdowns, near Hobart, resident Marko showed Minister Barnett around 16 new energy efficient homes. The pair were joined by a range of guests including Housing Choices Chair, Heather McCallum, General Manager Tasmania, Kim Bomford and Managing Director Michael Lennon. Single dad Marko said Oakdowns was his first experience of community housing and that the housing quality as well as its proximity to education and work opportunities had been a life changer after years of insecure housing and no fixed address. “I can’t explain how much a stable, affordable and comfortable home has helped us. It’s got everything we want,” he said. In Rosetta, Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Hon Julie Collins, planted a native tree in the communal garden at the property that has
provided much-needed social housing to 26 households, including people with disability. With the Tasmanian public waiting list at 4500 and Hobart one of the most expensive cities in Australia to rent, relative to income, General Manager Kim Bomford said the creation of good quality, social housing in Tasmania was more urgent than ever. “We see first-hand the need to deliver quality, secure, affordable housing to those in our community who are vulnerable for many and varied reasons and increasingly for those that are unable to pay market rent and are completely locked out of private ownership.”
Above: Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Julie Collins helping a resident plant a tree. During Homelessness Week in August, Housing Choices Tasmania residents were joined by a range of government officials, including Federal Housing Minister Hon Julie Collins, State Housing Minister Guy Barnett and Tasmanian Senator Carol Brown, as well as Housing Choices staff and guests to formally launch two architecturally designed social and affordable housing projects in the state’s south. The developments were both completed during COVID lockdowns in 2021.
Below: Housing Choices General Manager Tasmania Kim Bomford, Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Hon Julie Collins and resident Marko.
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