Latrobe, Tasmania, Wed July 19 – Housing Choices Tasmania (HCT) will build 31 new affordable houses in Tasmania’s North West by June 2019.

The Member for Braddon, the Hon. Roger Jaensch, today joined Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney and HCT executives in the town of Latrobe, to announce that HCT ($3.5 million), Housing Tasmania ($3.87 million) and Latrobe Council ($470,000) will jointly invest in the building of 26 new social housing dwellings in Latrobe and a further 5 in Somerset.

The new accommodation will provide much-needed, affordable housing solutions for older people, people living with a disability and those escaping family violence in the North West. Residents will be priority applicants from the Tasmanian Housing Register.

The successful outcome is a result of the Expressions of Interest for Regional Supply process run by Housing Tasmania early this year.

Design and construction will be project managed by HCT, which has just celebrated its third year of operations in the North West under the State Government’s Better Housing Futures programme.

After construction, HCT will own the properties, which will be used to meet the needs of vulnerable tenants for a minimum period of period of 30 years. HCT is also looking to develop an additional four houses for release to the affordable home ownership market.

All new dwellings will be completed by June 2019 under the terms of the funding contract.

Housing Choices Managing Director Michael Lennon congratulated the State Government on its commitment to the North West and to community housing enterprise in Tasmania.

“Housing Choices Tasmania is committed to delivering long term, sustainable housing solutions to people here who are struggling to find affordable homes where they feel safe, supported and part of a community.

“We know this region well and we look forward to working with the communities and our established partners here to continue to improve the stock of affordable housing for vulnerable people, as well as helping build good neighbourhoods to sustain and support them,” Mr. Lennon said.
Mary Clark – Media Adviser