‘Place to call home’: Bundaberg welcomes new line of social housing

The Queensland government has unveiled modular homes in the Wide Bay as part of an answer to a housing crisis that is crippling cities across the state.

The Queensland Premier Steven Miles was welcomed to Bundaberg on Tuesday March 26 to inspect the latest in a line of social housing planned for the Wide Bay region.

Two modular homes have been unveiled in the Wide Bay region as part of the state government’s plan to help people off the street.

The Queensland Premier Steven Miles was in Bundaberg on Tuesday morning where he inspected the social housing buildings, aimed at accommodating those most vulnerable and most at risk of homelessness.

The modular homes were built in the city as part of the state government’s homes for Queensland plan and are the first in a number of homes on the way for the Wide Bay.

In the coming weeks two homes will be finished in Maryborough, seven are slated for Eidsvold and Gympie will eventually have 11 homes.

The Bundaberg homes in Walkervale were built through the government's QBuild initiative, with 100 modular homes constructed across the state in the past year.

“Our homes for Queenslanders plan is all about delivering more homes for Queenslanders and you can see the proof here in Bundaberg,” Mr Miles said.

The Premier spoke about the advantages of modular construction, which allowed developments to take place within factories more suitable to the average working capabilities of people without trades.

The Queensland Premier Steven Miles inspected the homes on Tuesday, which are close to schools and shopping centres.

“You wouldn’t know it from being inside but they are modular, constructed in a factory and assembled here on site,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic new way of making sure that we can be building houses all year round and that building doesn’t have to stop when it rains, that we can deliver apprenticeships and traineeships in a controlled factory setting.”

The two-bedroom homes include modern bathrooms and kitchens with a laundry and generous backyard suitable for young families.

The Labor Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith joined the premier for a walk-through of the modular homes and said the development would allow struggling residents to access a safe and secure housing opportunity.

“Queenslanders are looking for a place to call home and that’s exactly what we’re doing here in the heart of Bundaberg,” he said.

“We’re delivering a home for a family and what comes with this is more than just four walls, more than just a roof.

“It comes with an opportunity, an opportunity for that family to feel safe, to feel a part of the community once again after having struggled through homelessness.”