A $10 million maintenance boost to more than 1400 ageing public housing properties in South Australia is now complete as part of a major Marshall Liberal Government initiative to support jobs and the economy to the impacts of COVID-19.
Fast-tracked upgrades to the Housing SA properties began in late March 2020, ranging from painting, lighting and roofing upgrades through to significant works including new kitchens and bathrooms – and supported about 160 South Australian jobs.
The $10 million in works is in addition to the SA Housing Authority's annual $115 million maintenance budget, with the benefit flowing to local tradespeople and businesses and tenants.
The former Labor Government routinely cut housing maintenance as a budget savings measure – and homes were left to ruin.
Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink thanked maintenance contractors for quickly finishing works, benefiting both local jobs – and tenants.
"The Marshall Liberal Government's $10 million maintenance stimulus is now complete and was a deliberate and targeted response to keep local contractors in jobs and ensures our construction and building industry is supported at this unprecedented time," said Minister Lensink.
"The work has been completed quickly and efficiently and aimed to help contractors stay in business and support about 160 South Australian jobs.
"By doing preventative maintenance earlier, such as work on kitchens, bathrooms and rooves, we are able to extend the life of a property, meaning it is suitable for tenants for longer.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is spending above and beyond the former Labor Government's annual maintenance spend on homes left to ruin under them. It's not only boosting work for our trades but making life better for our tenants."
Of the $10 million, all of it was spent by December 2020 and included:
- Improvements to shared areas at 40 blocks of flats and group sites
- Rosslyn Court, Block 1, Parkside – replacing asbestos roof and internalising laundries, exterior resurfaced and refreshed, outbuildings demolished, installing Solar PV panels, painting
- Rellum Court, Glengowrie – internalising laundries, lighting and horticulture upgrade, outbuildings demolished
- Anne Close, Christie Downs - improvements to public areas including lighting, horticulture and common driveways
- Stow Court, Fullarton - improvements to public areas including common areas, lighting and horticulture, common driveways, car park
- Avondale, Elizabeth – improvements to common areas, lighting and horticulture
- Drew Court, Oaklands Park - improvements to common areas, lighting and horticulture
- 105 individual properties throughout the metropolitan and regional areas requiring renovations such as new kitchens, bathrooms and rooves, including properties in the Riverland, Mt Gambier and Port Augusta.
The $10 million stimulus brings forward spending under the $75 million committed for maintenance upgrades as part of the Marshall Liberal Government's new housing strategy, Our Housing Future 2020-30.
A second, $21.1 million maintenance stimulus announced as part of the 2019-20 State Budget will be completed by mid-2021 and includes upgrades to properties in metropolitan Adelaide and Kangaroo Island.
The maintenance works are being undertaken by existing Multi-Trader Contractors, who are engaging locally based contractors to undertake the upgrade works to the sites.
