Queensland social housing homes to receive ceiling fans and cooling systems as part of joint program

For Rasmussen social housing resident Bronwyn Grainer, new ceiling fans are making a world of difference in beating the summer heat. She is one of the first to receive a new fan under a new joint government program.

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr, with Rasmussen resident Bronwyn Grainer and Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O'Connor.

For Rasmussen resident Bronwyn Grainer, new ceiling fans are making a world of difference in beating the Townsville summer heat.

A social housing resident of 16 years, Ms Grainer’s home is one of more than 20,000 across the state that will receive new or upgraded fans as part of new program from the state and federal governments.

Ms Grainer said it was great to have a cool breeze in her house, with new ceiling fans replacing her “horrible” old fans that didn’t work sufficiently.

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr, with Rasmussen resident Bronwyn Grainer and Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O'Connor.

“Every time you had to clean them they would lose paint … These (new) fans are awesome,” she said.

Housing and Public Works Minister Sam O’Connor announced in Townsville on Thursday morning that $98m will be invested into improving tenant wellbeing and energy efficiently under a four year program, that will deliver 94,000 ceiling fans.

He said around 40 per cent of social housing tenants across the state don’t have any ceiling fans, insulation or methods to cool their homes in the “unforgiving Queensland summer”

“That’s really tough,” he said.

“It's the responsibility of the government and my department. To get this rolled out is really, really important and it will be life-changing for a lot of our tenants.”

Mr O’Connor said as Queensland’s “biggest landlord” it was the job of the government to ensure tenants have the basic necessities and said many could have been living without sufficient cooling systems for “decades”.

“In Townsville alone that will involve 5600 fans being installed at around 1300 properties,” he said.

“That will make a massive difference for who are often some of our most vulnerable Queenslanders, who frankly should have had this a long time ago and who deserve nothing else than what this program will deliver.”

Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O'Connor with Townsville MPs Adam Baillie, Natalie Marr and Janelle Poole. Picture: Nikita McGuire

The program will see the installation of ceiling fans, insulation, energy-efficient hot water systems and cooling systems installed in areas around the state, and is being funded through a $116m joint partnership under the Australian Government’s Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative.

Mr O’Connor said the upgrades are part of a broader initiative to deliver ceiling fans in bedrooms and living areas for each of Queensland’s 63,000 government-owned social homes.

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr said it was a great program, especially for regional Queensland and Townsville.

“This is about the vulnerable and the elderly who are having to endure incredible heat that we’ve been experiencing here lately,” she said.

“These are the basic necessities of any home, fans and insulation just to cool down the property to allow them to stay in their homes comfortably.”

Townsville MP Adam Ballie and experienced electrician said the fans were a cost-effective way to be more comfortable at home, particularly in the hotter months.

“Having a ceiling fan in a property can make an immense difference on the cooling and how you feel as a tenant,” he said.

Originally published as Queensland social housing homes to receive ceiling fans and cooling systems as part of joint program