Published Wednesday, 22 October, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
FIRST SOD TURNED ON NEW SPRING HILL HOUSING PROJECT
Social housing stocks in Brisbane’s inner city are set to receive a boost with construction of a $8.4 million Department of Housing development in Spring Hill officially starting today.
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten and Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace today turned the first sod on the development at the corner of Gregory Terrace and Kinross Street.
Mr Schwarten said the 35-unit project, being built on land owned by Churches of Christ Care, will include 30, one-bedroom units and five studio units.
“One of the five ambitions of the Bligh Government’s Towards Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland vision is to create a fairer community,” Mr Schwarten said.
“The government’s commitment to providing social housing to those who need it most, through developments like this one, certainly aligns with that.
“When complete, this development will be managed on-site by Churches of Christ Care and will house 35 people who are currently on the Department of Housing’s register of need.
“Churches of Christ Care, through its service Care Housing, has a proven track record of managing housing. It currently manages more than 400 tenancies across Queensland and they do it well.”
Ms Grace said skyrocketing rents in the inner city private rental market were having an impact on low-to-moderate income earners.
“Data released last week by the Residential Tenancies Authority showed the cost of renting a one-bedroom unit in Brisbane’s inner city suburbs had increased 10.7% in the past 12 months from $271 per week in September 2007 to $300 per week in September 2008,” Mr Grace said.
“Such increases have forced low income earners to move further away from the city and their jobs in order to find cheaper accommodation.
“Projects like this increase the supply of affordable accommodation close to the city and that’s great news.”
Construction is forecast for completion by the end of 2009.
The Gregory Terrace project is one of four major Department of Housing projects currently underway or planned for Brisbane’s inner city.
Construction of 34 studio units is currently underway on Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill while a further 24 studio units is under construction in Hooker Street, Windsor.
The department plans to start construction of 20 studio units in Light Street, Fortitude Valley this financial year.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten and Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace today turned the first sod on the development at the corner of Gregory Terrace and Kinross Street.
Mr Schwarten said the 35-unit project, being built on land owned by Churches of Christ Care, will include 30, one-bedroom units and five studio units.
“One of the five ambitions of the Bligh Government’s Towards Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland vision is to create a fairer community,” Mr Schwarten said.
“The government’s commitment to providing social housing to those who need it most, through developments like this one, certainly aligns with that.
“When complete, this development will be managed on-site by Churches of Christ Care and will house 35 people who are currently on the Department of Housing’s register of need.
“Churches of Christ Care, through its service Care Housing, has a proven track record of managing housing. It currently manages more than 400 tenancies across Queensland and they do it well.”
Ms Grace said skyrocketing rents in the inner city private rental market were having an impact on low-to-moderate income earners.
“Data released last week by the Residential Tenancies Authority showed the cost of renting a one-bedroom unit in Brisbane’s inner city suburbs had increased 10.7% in the past 12 months from $271 per week in September 2007 to $300 per week in September 2008,” Mr Grace said.
“Such increases have forced low income earners to move further away from the city and their jobs in order to find cheaper accommodation.
“Projects like this increase the supply of affordable accommodation close to the city and that’s great news.”
Construction is forecast for completion by the end of 2009.
The Gregory Terrace project is one of four major Department of Housing projects currently underway or planned for Brisbane’s inner city.
Construction of 34 studio units is currently underway on Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill while a further 24 studio units is under construction in Hooker Street, Windsor.
The department plans to start construction of 20 studio units in Light Street, Fortitude Valley this financial year.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832