A new housing development in Hobart’s northern suburbs will provide around two dozen homes for people in need over the next two years.
Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins announced the project on Thursday, saying it is part of a $145 million investment in Tasmania to address the national shortage.
“We know Australia doesn’t have enough homes, Tasmania doesn’t have enough homes and we need more homes of every type here in Tasmania and right around the country,” she said.
“We want to see more homes here in Tasmania and more homes right across the country as part of that $32 billion plan.”
The project will deliver 23 new social homes in Chigwell, providing shelter for people on the Social Housing Register.
Housing Minister Felix Ellis said the development is a step towards the government’s target of 10,000 new social and affordable homes by 2032.
“Every home is an opportunity to transform families’ lives,” he said. “It’s the safety of the four walls around you, it’s the security of a place for family and it’s the opportunity to grow as well.”
Home Tasmania CEO Eleri Morgan-Thomas expects work to be completed by 2026 and create jobs for struggling local tradies in the process.
“We contract with residential builders who already have an existing workforce and are looking at the moment for more work,” she said.
“We’re very aware that they need … a pipeline of work coming through. We’re a substantial contributor to what gets built in Tasmania because we are building a lot.”
“We’re very alive … and want to make sure that we’re doing as much as we can to support them and give them certainty.”
