The local community is assured that new social housing will be delivered to the region thanks to the Quick Start Fund which will facilitate commencement of 100 new builds in the area before 2025.
Two projects are already underway in the region, one being recently completed on Livingstone Street in Bowen, supplying four one-bedroom houses for people living with disabilities.
A second project at 185 Shute Harbour Road in Cannonvale will deliver two, two-storey buildings and a total of 12 new social housing units to the area.
Construction of this $5.5 million complex commenced in April this year and is due to be complete by March 2024.
Six of the dwellings are accessible with four of the units designed to Gold Level, including features such as level thresholds, wider doorways and hallways, and provision for grab rails, making them suitable for people with varying levels of mobility.
Two of the units designed to Platinum Level include additional features and clearance spaces, making them particularly suitable for people who mobilise in wheelchairs.
The houses are centrally located two minutes from the shopping centre, doctor’s surgery, and local state school.
Fergus Builders have been contracted to the build and have so far employed 76 local people, a figure that is expected to double when other local trades join the final stages of construction.
Housing Minister, Meaghan Scanlon, took a tour of the site on Tuesday and reassured the community more housing is on the way.
“Queensland can expect more social housing,” she said.
“We need to pull every lever that is available to us - building more homes, rental subsidies, and scaling up supply - we are looking at every option to scale up supply which is why we are working with Council’s to unlock more.”
Earlier that morning, Ms Scanlon attended the opening of the Housing Summit held in Mackay and she said she was pleased to hear from local stakeholders firsthand.
“Supply is the key area right across country and state,” she said.
This year there are 183 applications on the social housing register for the Whitsunday Local Government Area.
Between 1 July 2022 and 30 April 2023, the Mackay Housing Service Centre has provided 367 bond loans and 147 rental grants to help people secure a rental home in the private rental market.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon, at the site of the $5.5 million social housing complex in Cannonvale. Photo credit: Rachael Smith.
Ms Scanlon discussed time frame and logistics with a representative from Fergus Builders. Photo credit: Rachael Smith
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