Building Queensland's affordable housing stock

Queensland was allocated $1.165 billion over three years to build new social housing and repair and maintain existing social housing stock under the Australian Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan: Social Housing Initiative, announced in February 2009.

By 30 June 2012, Queensland aims to deliver over 4000 social housing dwellings. Queensland has focussed on ensuring new homes are built in areas of unmet demand for social housing, particularly in regional areas.

“All capital projects approved to date were assessed in relation to site, location, value for money, readiness to commence and job creation, including jobs for apprentices. Queensland has ensured that one-third of the construction program is being delivered through not-for-profit providers,” Sandra Cuthbert, Acting Director, Nation Building Capital Investment, Social Housing Programs said.

At 30 June 2011, 2754 dwellings were completed and over 30,700 repair and maintenance jobs were completed at a cost of $80 million. Homes have benefited from improvements such as increased storage, ceiling fans, carports, new kitchens and bathrooms, and ceiling insulation.

In a first for Queensland, some of the large not-for-profit providers delivered mixed developments that included retail, social housing, private housing and housing built under the National Rental Affordability Scheme. Through the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, the social housing portfolio has diversified, with dwelling types ranging from studio apartments in inner city locations through to five bedroom detached houses in regional communities.

Based on demand, there has been rapid growth of one and two-bedroom dwellings with universal design or full adaptability (designed to be suitable for a tenant with mobility difficulties). By the completion of the program in June 2012, over 2600 dwellings will feature universal design, with wider doorways and corridors, and jobless (flat, one-level) showers suitable for people who have mobility impairment either now or in the future.

Of the dwellings tenanted to date, almost 60% of applicants have identified as people with a disability, and 36% have identified as older people. These new homes will provide suitable accommodation for Queensland’s ageing population in the coming years.