Facelift plans for public housing

The Minister for Human Services, Cassy O’Connor, today (Thurs) announced plans to redevelop one of Hobart’s oldest public housing complexes into new residential and affordable housing.
Ms O’Connor said the Government will this weekend advertise for expressions of interest from not-for-profit groups and private developers interested in giving the complex a new lease of life.

“The Government is committed to building healthier, more supportive, socially inclusive communities through our reform of the housing sector,” she said.

“It’s about changing the way we deliver social and affordable housing to avoid the urban sprawl created by policies of the past, and bring people from a diverse range of backgrounds together.

“And while Stainforth Court has been home to a number of Tasmanians with complex needs for many years now, it’s time to look at how we can renew and revitalise the area to better support the tenants that are living in the complex.

“We are committed to seeing affordable housing for low-income tenants form part of any redevelopment of this complex.”

Ms O’Connor said she believed the site had strong redevelopment potential.

“There is great potential here to revitalise the area for the benefit of both tenants and the broader community,” Ms O’Connor said.

“It’s true that the sheer size of the complex may create some challenges, but we are hoping that developers will find the site appealing and have the vision and ability to transform it.

“At this stage, we are investigating options for the site and this weekend’s Expressions of Interest is a significant step in the process.

Ms O’Connor said Housing Tasmania informed tenants of the decision yesterday.

“I want to stress that there should be little or no disruption for current tenants during this process,” she said.

“Some site visits will be required, but Housing Tasmania will aim to keep the disruption to a minimum and will be in contact with residents before they happen.

“Housing Tasmania is committed to minimising disruption while the redevelopment is considered and to ensure tenants are able to find suitable long-term accommodation, should a suitable proposal be found.”

Ms O’Connor said that a decision on redevelopment was not expected until the middle of next year and that, in the meantime, tenants would continue to live at Stainforth Court as normal.

“If there is no suitable proposal to redevelop Stainforth Court, Housing Tasmania will continue to own and manage the site,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said reform of the public housing sector was aimed at fostering supportive and socially-inclusive communities.

“So far we have announced major improvements in maintenance of public housing including assisting tenants with cost-of-living pressures by improving energy efficiency,” she said.

“We are also in the middle of the largest construction drive of affordable housing in decades – with more than 900 new affordable homes provided under all programs since January 2009 in partnership with the Australian government, and we are on track to deliver 1400 affordable homes by the end of June 2014.

“Another critical factor in this reform is the Government’s recently-released Residential Development Strategy, a blueprint for the future of social and affordable housing in Tasmania.

“The Strategy is underpinned by four key drivers, including:

• Meeting the current and future needs for a diverse housing mix that helps make better connected communities;

• Designing less expensive new dwellings that reduce recurrent household utility costs;

• Using less land, water, energy and materials when making new developments and operating them; and

• Using best practice planning, urban design, architecture and construction.

“These are the elements that would be essential in any redevelopment of Stainforth Court, and through initiatives like this, we are continuing our work to grow the supply of social and affordable housing to deliver the best possible outcome for our public housing tenants.