ID :
53866
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 09:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/53866
The shortlink copeid
Stimulus package provides housing boost
The federal government has marked the start of the $6.4 billion low-cost public
housing component of its Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan with projects in
Sydney and Melbourne.
Federal Families, Housing and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin on Saturday
announced $173 million funding to build new social housing in Victoria, while in
Sydney federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek launched a similar project.
As part of its $42 billion stimulus package announced in February, the federal
government said it would spend $6.4 billion on low-cost public housing, with 20,000
new houses to be built across the country.
Some $692 million has been distributed nationally.
"Working with the Victorian government, we have committed to deliver 667 new social
housing dwellings across the state by July next year," Ms Macklin said.
"Not only does this mean new homes for families, it will also support jobs in the
construction industry, including apprenticeships."
Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the new homes would deliver benefits
to those Victorians in need.
"This boost from the stimulus package will help create or secure more than 3,000 new
jobs as well as providing more affordable housing for the Victorian community," he
said.
"We're looking to make housing more affordable for low and middle income earners by
building new homes across metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria's regional centres."
In Sydney, Ms Plibersek and Premier Nathan Rees marked the start of construction on
851 public housing dwellings in NSW, jointly funded by the state and federal
governments.
In all, 6,000 homes are to be built across the state under the federal scheme.
At a cost of $225 million, the new housing will be built across the state by the
middle of next year - with the joint goals of stimulating the economy, and boosting
NSW stock of low-cost housing.
Combined with an existing NSW government plan, a total of 9,000 new homes will be
built across the state in the next two to three years.
Ms Plibersek said the national package would support 15,000 jobs in the building
industry.
"We'll see over 20,000 homes built right around Australia, three-quarters of them
will be completed by the end of 2010," she told reporters.
"That means jobs for builders, jobs for plumbers, electricians, carpenters,
cabinetmakers ... it means jobs for apprentices."
Building the 851 dwellings would create 2,000 jobs in the NSW construction industry,
said NSW Premier Nathan Rees.
The housing package helped "insulate the NSW and Australian economies from the worst
effects of the global downturn", he said on Saturday at a building site at
Guildford, in western Sydney.
"It's critical for the NSW and Commonwealth governments during these tough economic
times to do all we can to help businesses retain their current employees as well as
employ more people," Mr Rees said.
The 851 homes will be offered to low-income residents, and operated by community
housing groups.
housing component of its Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan with projects in
Sydney and Melbourne.
Federal Families, Housing and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin on Saturday
announced $173 million funding to build new social housing in Victoria, while in
Sydney federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek launched a similar project.
As part of its $42 billion stimulus package announced in February, the federal
government said it would spend $6.4 billion on low-cost public housing, with 20,000
new houses to be built across the country.
Some $692 million has been distributed nationally.
"Working with the Victorian government, we have committed to deliver 667 new social
housing dwellings across the state by July next year," Ms Macklin said.
"Not only does this mean new homes for families, it will also support jobs in the
construction industry, including apprenticeships."
Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the new homes would deliver benefits
to those Victorians in need.
"This boost from the stimulus package will help create or secure more than 3,000 new
jobs as well as providing more affordable housing for the Victorian community," he
said.
"We're looking to make housing more affordable for low and middle income earners by
building new homes across metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria's regional centres."
In Sydney, Ms Plibersek and Premier Nathan Rees marked the start of construction on
851 public housing dwellings in NSW, jointly funded by the state and federal
governments.
In all, 6,000 homes are to be built across the state under the federal scheme.
At a cost of $225 million, the new housing will be built across the state by the
middle of next year - with the joint goals of stimulating the economy, and boosting
NSW stock of low-cost housing.
Combined with an existing NSW government plan, a total of 9,000 new homes will be
built across the state in the next two to three years.
Ms Plibersek said the national package would support 15,000 jobs in the building
industry.
"We'll see over 20,000 homes built right around Australia, three-quarters of them
will be completed by the end of 2010," she told reporters.
"That means jobs for builders, jobs for plumbers, electricians, carpenters,
cabinetmakers ... it means jobs for apprentices."
Building the 851 dwellings would create 2,000 jobs in the NSW construction industry,
said NSW Premier Nathan Rees.
The housing package helped "insulate the NSW and Australian economies from the worst
effects of the global downturn", he said on Saturday at a building site at
Guildford, in western Sydney.
"It's critical for the NSW and Commonwealth governments during these tough economic
times to do all we can to help businesses retain their current employees as well as
employ more people," Mr Rees said.
The 851 homes will be offered to low-income residents, and operated by community
housing groups.
