A master-planned community featuring a mix of new public and affordable housing for South Australian families is part of a significant Malinauskas Government rejuvenation underway in Blair Athol.
In total, 70 new public housing rental homes are being built under the Blair Athol Neighbourhood Renewal Initiative along with almost 100 affordable homes for purchase.
Additional public housing in Blair Athol was funded from the $232.7 million Public Housing Improvement Program (PHIP) that will deliver 437 new homes. Today the SA Housing Authority has also released final details of where more of these homes will be built across the state.
These sites cover 48 suburbs and regions across South Australia, with suburbs including Christies Beach, Clovelly Park, Oaklands Park, Ascot Park, Morphett Vale, Windsor Gardens, Mansfield Park, Kilburn, Enfield, North Haven, and Ingle farm all added to the list. Moonta, Clare, Kadina, and Wallaroo will all benefit as well.
In total, the Malinauskas Government is investing $474.7 million in a comprehensive suite of measures to deliver more social housing and affordable homes to South Australians. Investment supports the delivery of 3,600 new homes over five years and reduces the cost of housing for about 14,000 more new homes.
All civil works for the first three stages facilitating 30 new public housing builds have been completed. The new public housing builds will be handed over progressively from early 2024 with all remaining civil works in the final two stages to be completed by December 2024.
Buyers will have a great opportunity to purchase an affordable home in the development with 95 newly constructed affordable homes to be offered for sale during the next 12 months.
Single storey and townhouse-style homes are available, with all being built by SA Housing Authority building partner, Rivergum Homes. The two-bedroom homes are priced between $465,000 and $505,000, well below the median housing price for Blair Athol of $680,000.
Eligible buyers can purchase homes currently under construction, or a house and land package, and may be eligible for Stamp Duty relief with savings up to $21,605 on a home valued at $505,000. Buyers may also be able to access the First Homeowners Grant valued at up to $15,000.
Affordable home buyers can apply for a HomeStart Shared Equity Loan, which increases their borrowing capacity without increasing payments. Check HomeStart Finance's website for details (www.homestart.com.au).
Affordable homes are available to eligible buyers earning less than $130,000 per year as a couple, or $100,000 as a single person.
To check your eligibility and to sign-up to get alerts about these and all new affordable housing listings on HomeSeeker SA, visit www.homeseeker.sa.gov.au.
As put by Human Services Minister Nat Cook
We are delivering on our commitment to build new public and affordable housing where it is needed most, at a time when increasing the supply of these homes could not be more crucial.
Rebuilding stocks and boosting supply takes time, but we have made a positive start and halted a generational trend would have seen public housing supply continue to decline.
We have an absolute commitment to rebuilding public housing in South Australia, and we can see how that can positively impact a suburb like Blair Athol.
The public home builds, combined with the government-backed affordable homes, is rejuvenating this wonderful suburb, close to parks, facilities, and schools, which is ideal for families.
As put by Mary Patetsos AM, SA Housing Trust Board Presiding Member
The SA Housing Authority has an integral role in revitalising housing in suburbs like Blair Athol. We are updating our public housing so that we are offering modern housing that better meets the needs of our tenants.
The SA Housing Authority is providing opportunities – through the Affordable Housing Initiative - for low and moderate income South Australians to secure a home for their family without competing with investors.
Almost 100 of these homes are part of our commitment to deliver 1,000 affordable homes for South Australians.
