Housing and Public Works continues to deliver for the people of Queensland

The numbers are in and Queensland’s Department of Housing and Public Works has continued to deliver for the people of Queensland.

The Department of Housing and Public Works’ 2016-2017 Annual Report, tabled today in the Queensland Parliament, details how a committed team of over 2900 departmental staff across the state is delivering much-needed housing and homelessness support whilst also managing an $18.1 billion portfolio which includes residential, commercial, heritage and cultural assets.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said that in 2016-2017 the department assisted 71,992 low-income households with social rental housing, including 7197 new households.

“Housing and Public Works (HPW) also assisted more than 200,000 low-income households to access or remain in the private housing market, and provided over $27.211 million as incentives to investors to support the provision of over 10,200 affordable private rental dwellings,” said Mr de Brenni.

“It’s great to see that Queensland has achieved the highest level of public housing client satisfaction in Australia at 85.8 per cent – that’s almost 13 per cent better than the national average.”

Mr de Brenni said the 2017-2017 Annual Report also highlights HPW’s significant contribution to Queensland’s building and construction industry.

“For instance, HPW’s Building and Asset Services team managed $748 million worth of maintenance in 2016-2017 to keep our essential public facilities, like schools and police stations, open for business,” he said.

“Over 560 new social housing dwellings were also built or purchased across Queensland, and 10,109 upgrades to existing dwellings were completed, including disability modifications. Our commitment to providing accessible homes is reflected by a disabled client satisfaction rating of 81.1 per cent, almost 14 per cent above the national average.

“Thousands of Queensland businesses have contributed to these projects, creating many thousands of jobs which is great for so many Queensland families and their local economies.”

HPW also manages some 200 state-owned properties that contribute to local communities in less known, but no less important ways including heritage buildings, theatres, convention centres, cultural facilities, industrial properties and bridges.

Mr de Brenni said the department’s efforts of the past 12 months had paved the way for even greater successes for many years to come.

“HPW has launched the $1.8 billion Queensland Housing Strategy that will totally transform the way the state’s housing and homelessness services are delivered,” he said.

“Significant work was also undertaken engaging with industry and community stakeholders to prepare the Buy Queensland Procurement Strategy that will generate local jobs and make it easier for small to medium firms to do business with the government.

“In 2016/17 we began work on the Queensland Building Plan which has seen Queensland spearheaded the introduction of the nation’s toughest laws on dangerous building products.

“This plan will also include the strongest protections for sub-contractors anywhere in Australia, supporting the state’s $45 billion building industry that employs around 220,000 people.”

A copy of the department’s 2016-2017 Annual Report is available at >> http://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/aboutus/ReportsPublications/AnnualReports/Pages/default.aspx

ENDS

Media contact: Tristan Douglas – 0447 164 197