Much-needed upgrades to hundreds of SA's ageing and rundown public homes is well underway, as part of a fast-tracked Marshall Liberal Government multi-million maintenance injection supporting jobs and local businesses.
The record maintenance blitz includes upgrades to almost 1900 properties and includes new kitchens and bathrooms, improvements to common areas, lighting and security, paving, painting and horticultural works.
The more than $30 million spend includes $21.1 million from the 2019-20 State Budget, and $10 million from the Marshall Liberal Government's $1 billion COVID-19 stimulus – and is in addition to the SA Housing Authority's $114 million 2019-20 maintenance budget.
The much-needed maintenance comes after the former Labor Government routinely cut housing maintenance as a budget savings measure – and homes were left to ruin.
The Marshall Liberal Government's fast-tracked $10 million COVID-19 stimulus to upgrade 1400 properties is almost complete, supporting more than 160 jobs. It includes upgrades to:
* 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 * Holbrook, Brooklyn Park - improvements to common areas, lighting and horticulture
* 105 individual properties throughout the metropolitan and regional areas requiring new kitchens, bathrooms and rooves
Additional maintenance work now underway includes:
* $10.55 million to upgrade a total of 198 units in three walk-up flats – Mellor Court (Gilberton), Yeomans Court (Henley Beach South), and Bonython Court (Hawthorn), is underway and expected to be completed mid-2021.
* $9.55 million on preventative maintenance and upgrades to 250 properties across metropolitan Adelaide, expected to be completed by mid-2021.
* $1 million towards upgrading 40 properties on Kangaroo Island, to be completed in October 2020.
Minister Michelle Lensink said the Marshall Liberal Government is committed to continuing upgrades to public housing across the state, including the regions.
"The Marshall Liberal Government's fast-tracked multi-million maintenance blitz is providing a much-needed shot in the arm for our local contractors, helping support jobs during the greatest economic challenge of our time," said Minister Lensink.
"So far, a total of $8.4 million of our deliberate and targeted $10 million COVID-19 maintenance blitz has been completed since March, helping sustain more than 160 jobs across South Australia.
"South Australia's public housing was left to ruin under the former Labor Government and we are working hard to undertake maintenance work to homes in chronic condition.
"Upon coming into government, we immediately began an audit of all public housing properties to allow us to identify and fund the maintenance works required.
"Labor used the South Australian Housing Trust as a cash cow to prop up the rest of the budget and after 16 years of mismanagement in this portfolio, our public housing system will not be fixed overnight.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is spending record additional maintenance funding to fix our public homes left to ruin under Labor – and we are committed to continuing to improve public housing for our tenants."
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.
