Queensland Plans to Construct 490 Homes for Seniors in Need of Social and Affordable Housing

September 19, 2024 TruthUSA

The project will focus on individuals over the age of 55 who are looking to downsize from their current homes.

The Queensland government is planning to construct 490 new social and affordable homes for elderly residents to free up larger homes for families.

This initiative, considered the largest of its kind in Queensland, aims to offer housing options for residents aged 55 and above who want to downsize.

Funded jointly by the Queensland and federal governments, each apartment will boast modern, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient designs, featuring one or two bedrooms.

Nestled in Cairns’s Woree suburb, the housing complex will consist of 245 social, 223 affordable, and 22 specialist disability apartments.

Financial support for the project will be sourced from Queensland’s Housing Investment Fund, Housing Australia, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) and ANZ bank, and a capital grant from the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.

FCC Construction Australia and Modscape will undertake the construction of the housing complex, with work commencing the week of Sept. 23.

The project is anticipated to reach completion by the end of 2026.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed his commitment to collaborating with the Queensland government to provide more homes throughout the state.

“This project will introduce hundreds of homes in regional Queensland while aligning with our objective to deliver numerous homes through our Housing Australia Future Fund across Australia,” he stated.

Concurrently, Queensland Premier Steven Miles emphasized the importance of ensuring every older resident in the state has a suitable home.

“One of the crucial responsibilities of a government is constructing homes for the most vulnerable citizens—an initiative I am proud to pursue daily,” Miles commented.

“I have a robust strategy to expedite home construction while supporting first-time homebuyers, renters, and the most at-risk individuals, addressing the housing challenges we confront on a daily basis and also preparing for the future.”

Shared Equity Scheme for Housing Blocked at Senate

Queensland’s announcement coincides with a setback for the federal Labor government’s significant housing bill, as reported here.

On September 18, the Coalition and the Greens Party hindered Labor’s Help to Buy Bill at the Senate with a vote of 19 to 41.

The Bill proposes government assistance for individuals to achieve homeownership, covering up to 30 percent of the purchase price for existing homes and 40 percent for new homes.

Its objective is to offer financial aid to 10,000 homeowners annually over a span of four years.

The Greens have criticized the Labor government for trying to rush through legislation that could disadvantage many renters.

Meanwhile, recent data highlighted by Master Builders Australia suggests that the government is likely to fall short of its target of 1.2 million homes with the current progress.

The industry body forecasts that Australia will only be able to construct approximately 1.03 million homes by 2029, indicating a shortfall of 166,000 homes.

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia, has urged both state and federal governments to intensify their efforts in addressing the housing shortage.

Naziya Alvi Rahman contributed to this report.

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