New social and affordable homes in construction at Nerang

A new social housing development is taking shape on the Gold Coast, promising dozens of new properties for vulnerable residents as the city’s emergency continues to escalate. Read the latest

Construction is underway on a new social housing development on the Gold Coast.

Housing Minister Sam O’Connor was on site at Nerang on Thursday to turn the first sod on the project, which will be delivered in partnership with St Vincent de Paul.

“Towards the end of next year, we’ll have 60 new homes delivered here,” Minister O’Connor said.

“Fifty-three of them will be social, one and two-bedroom homes, the remainder will be affordable homes.

“This is the exact location where you want to see housing built, right across from the shops, near public transport, near road connections, it’s a great spot. We want to see more projects like this.”

State Government and Vinnies execs and CEO Sleepout ambassadors celebrate the beginning of construction of new Nerang units at a sod turning ceremony. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

St. Vincent de Paul Queensland CEO Kevin Mercer said the Vinnies CEO Sleepout initiative had raised funds to purchase the land for the project, with the State Government helping to fund construction of the homes.

“A couple of years ago, we saw the need through our members in the community, people reaching out to them in increasing numbers, without a safe affordable place to call home,” Mr Mercer said.

“The partnership that we have the State Government is a very important partnership to us. We share a common vision to ensure all Queenslanders have a safe and secure place to call home and this is the start of that journey.”

The new social and affordable housing development under construction at Nerang.

The State Government has 581 social and affordable homes currently in construction, or under contract to be delivered on the Gold Coast. Mr O’Connor committed to having all of the properties open to tenants within the next five years.

“That’ll absolutely be the time frame that they’ll be delivered in, but that pipeline needs to grow and that’s just the starting point,” he said.

“Our first budget is coming up in just a few weeks and that budget will all be about growing that pipeline and making sure that our teams have everything they need to get on with it and do the deals they need to do, to get more housing.”

St Vincent De Paul is also continuing to drive donations for its CEO Sleepout initiative to fund further social housing developments across the city.

Originally published as New social and affordable homes in construction at Nerang