61 affordable housing units in North Eveleigh
Federal
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor and NSW Minister
for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard today announced $7.2
million for 61 new affordable housing dwellings in North Eveleigh.
The North Eveleigh housing project will be fully supported through
the Australian Government’s Housing Affordability Fund, which provides
grants to local governments, local government associations, State and
Territory governments and the private sector to build the infrastructure
needed for housing developments and bring the costs down for
homebuyers.
“The Gillard Government believes all Australians deserve a safe and
affordable home, so they can find and hold a job, raise a family and
keep children in school,” Mr O’Connor said.
“That’s why we have invested an unprecedented $20 billion in measures
to help people with home ownership and affordable housing, and to
tackle homelessness.
“We are supporting 74 projects right across Australia – 21 in New
South Wales – through grants to make housing more affordable by reducing
infrastructure and planning related development costs.”
The North Eveleigh project will be part of a larger mixed residential
and commercial property development and is located close to the Sydney
CBD and Redfern train station.
“North Eveleigh’s proximity to the city and Redfern Station means it
has the potential to become one of Sydney’s key inner-city urban renewal
precincts,” Mr Hazzard said.
“This Housing Affordability Fund allocation will assist the revival
of the area by providing affordable housing for workers close to the
city and employment areas in the city’s southern gateway.
“We welcome this funding to provide the road works, utilities,
remediation and landscaping needed for this 61-unit housing development.
“Without this Commonwealth funding, we would have had to build the
infrastructure for this project using the levies we’ve already collected
from developers for affordable housing in the area.
“Because of the
Commonwealth’s contribution, the Sydney Metropolitan Development
Authority’s affordable housing funds can now provide more affordable
housing in the Redfern-Waterloo area in future projects.”
Mr O’Connor said addressing housing affordability was a challenge
that required the combined effort of all governments, as well as the
wider private and community sector.
“The $450 million Housing Affordability Fund is one of many measures
we have delivered to reduce housing-related infrastructure and planning
costs, and to pass these savings on to new home purchasers,” Mr O’Connor
said.
“It is about helping families and individuals to be able to afford to buy a home.”
The Fund complements other government initiatives to improve the
community’s access to affordable housing, including the $4.3 billion
National Rental Affordability Scheme and the $100 million Building
Better Regional Cities program.
Further information on Affordable Housing: Renting Affordable Housing Fact Sheet (PDF, 126KB)