Labor anger at empty public housing as building figures show sharp decline
A ten-unit public accommodation development has been sitting empty for months as waitlist for social housing blew out, Labor says. The reason why.
Tasmania
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A ten-unit public accommodation development has been sitting empty for months as the waitlist for social housing blows out, Labor says.
Shadow housing minister Ella Haddad said the Risdon Vale development had been sitting vacant for months since being completed last year.
Ms Haddad said it was hard to understand the delay.
“The Rockliff Government owes Tasmanians on the housing waitlist an explanation about why it has taken so long to fill these homes,” she said.
“If the government had acted more urgently, 10 families who were homeless or facing severe housing stress over the Christmas period could have had their worries eased.
“Yesterday it was revealed the number of applicants for social housing in November had reached a record high of 4,701 – roughly double what it was when the Liberals first came to power in 2014.
“The average time to house priority applicants in the latest Housing Dashboard sits a shocking 94.7 weeks – roughly four times longer than it was 10 years ago.”
Homes Tasmania said in a statement the properties would be filled soon.
“Social housing providers ensure that our properties are maintained so they are safe and secure, meet the needs of clients, promote improved liveability, and reduce ongoing living costs for vulnerable Tasmanians,’ the statement said.
“Homes Tasmania purchased 10 units in Risdon Vale late last year and has been working with the tenancy manager Centacare Evolve Housing on additional works required to tenant the properties.
“This process can take longer over the holiday season where there may be delays to accessing labour and materials.
The tenancies are expected to commence in the next fortnight.”
It comes as Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the number of new homes being built in Tasmania has slumped to its lowest level since 2017.
The latest building approval figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the number of new homes being built in Tasmania fell by 12 per cent in trend terms in the year to November after a 20 per cent drop the year before that.
There were 2853 dwellings approved during the period, down from 3252 in the corresponding period the year before and 4075 in the 12 months before that.
The total value of residential building jobs fell by 9.7 per cent in the year to November, to $10.4 bln from $11.5bln in the corresponding previous 12 month period.
It included 128 new public housing units, down from 126 in the previous 12 month period.
The state government has pledged to build 10,000 new affordable homes and units by 2032.
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