First new social housing construction in the ACT now complete
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
The first of 57 new social housing homes to be built in the ACT
as part of Stage One of the Australian Government's Nation Building
– Economic Stimulus Plan, has now been completed.
The Minister for Housing, the Hon Tanya Plibersek, and ACT Chief
Minister, Jon Stanhope, yesterday inspected the new house, meeting
the new tenants – a family with three children.
The mother of the family describes her new home as “life
changing”, enabling her to accommodate the growing needs of her
daughter who has special needs.
The four bedroom house was built by a local company, Vogue
Constructions, and features wide hallways and doorways that are
suitable for tenants with a disability or mobility difficulties. It
also has a six-star energy rating, featuring ceiling insulation and
solar hot water.
Director of Vogue Constructions, Mr Stuart Sampson, said “the
increase in workload due to the Social Housing Initiative has
created more job opportunities for new staff in my organisation”.
“A total of 66 office staff, sub-contractors, suppliers and
architects worked on this site. My sub-contractors have
reported an increase in the sub-contractor base to facilitate the
construction,” said Mr Sampson.
“In addition to the retention of existing staff, 3 additional
positions were created for administrative and site staff and
sub-contractors have employed nine apprentices”.
The 57 new social housing homes will be complete by July 2010.
In addition, funding of $6.4 million will be provided to repair a
total of 243 homes in the ACT.
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