Sam O’Connor announces the opening of a social housing apartment complex in Biggera Waters

A Gold Coast couple, who were living on the streets for two years have officially moved into their new apartment, one of 53,500 new social housing properties the government hopes to build by 2044.

A Gold Coast couple who were living on the streets for two years have officially moved into their new apartment, one of 53,500 social housing properties the government intends to build by 2044.

Three weeks ago Gina and Alberto moved into their Biggera Waters apartment after living in their van for two years.

“We were thirsty, hungry and needed some shelter to sleep,” Gina said.

“The street isn’t easy, but we held our hands together and kept wishing for this.

“It’s a dream come true.”

Gina and Alberto outside their new home in Biggera Waters.

The couple secured one of 24 new social housing units in Biggera Waters, a project which housing minister Sam O’Connor said was able to open ahead of time and on budget.

“We are experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis in this city and across our state,” he said.

“The only way out of it is for new supply to come to market just like this.

“These 24 units will be transformational for the lives of our new residents who will be living here.”

Mr O’Connor sledged the former government for leaving the housing department with a “legacy of under delivering”.

“Under them only 500 homes were being delivered every year,” he said.

“That would’ve taken around a century to reach our social housing delivery targets of 53,500 new properties.

“We have an ambitious target of delivering the 53,500 new social and affordable homes by 2044.”

Sam O’Connor inside one of the 24 new social housing apartments at Biggera Waters.

Mr O’Connor addressed the concerns of the homeless community at Carey Park in Southport, who recently called for council to put a stay on evicting them.

“We have our outreach officers who engage alongside council and we have our teams who are out there offering support to whoever we can engage with safely,” he said.

“They are there as much as they possibly can be to make sure they are getting as many people on the pathway that Gina and Alberto have got on.”

Mr O’Connor said there were nearly 5000 people across Queensland who were being housed in hotels and motels.

“It’s a temporary solution, it’s not a solution that we want to see ongoing but it’s what we have to provide at the moment to make sure these Queenslanders have a roof over their head,” he said.

“It’s never been harder in Queensland to have a roof over your head.”

The Biggera Waters social housing project was built by The McNab Group. Its executive chair Michael McNab said the firm was now focusing on completing 150 apartments in Southport which are due to be finished in 18 months.

Follow @CrysalFoxJour1

Originally published as Sam O’Connor announces the opening of a social housing apartment complex in Biggera Waters