The old Housing Commission days of drab, look-alike homes are well and truly gone judging by new developments in St George and Sutherland.
Although built to a more economical budget, the new social housing projects could be indistinguishable from nearby privately owned properties to passers-by.
The developments have been funded by the state government’s controversial sale of properties at Millers Point, Dawes Point and The Rocks, on the edge of Sydney Harbour, which required the relocation of hundreds of tenants.
Under the reinvestment program, more than 700 homes had been built by the end of 2017, with a further 372 properties under construction.
Most involve the demolition of old single dwelling houses built by the Housing Commission and their replacement with multi-dwelling homes in a wide variety of designs.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Family and Community Services said, in 2017, more than $25 million was spent in St George and Sutherland Shire on projects funded by the reinvestment program.
The projects, providing an increase of 57 homes – both general and seniors housing – include:
- Kingsgrove, $3.2 million, 11 homes, replacing three houses.
- Peakhurst, $5.4 million, 16 homes, replacing two houses.
- Jannali, $7.3 million, 24 homes, replacing seven houses.
- Peakhurst, $6 million, 14 homes, replacing two houses.
- Miranda, $3.2 million, eight homes, replacing two houses.
- Another 37 new units are under construction in Jannali and Oyster Bay.
The spokeswoman said the $7.3 million complex in Seventh Ave, Jannali, included the 600th unit built from proceeds of the Millers Point program.
Minister for Social Housing Pru Goward said the new homes supported some of the state’s most vulnerable, including seniors and people with disabilities.
“Proceeds from the sale of properties at Millers Point, Dawes Point and The Rocks will fund more than 1500 new purpose-built homes for people on the social housing waiting list,” Ms Goward said.
“The new properties are purpose-built for a range of tenants, including older people, families and for people with disabilities.
“Many of the properties our tenants were living in at Millers Point, Dawes Point and The Rocks were unsuitable for their needs.
“The new homes which have been built include modifications such as hand rails, ramps and wet rooms suitable for older tenants and those with disabilities.”
“For each Millers Point property sold we are building close to five new homes.”
The Department of Family and Community Services also has a Future Directions program, designed to deliver about 23,000 new and replacement social housing dwellings over the next 10 years.
More information on the Millers Point program.