WA govt moving to assist and develop seniors’ accommodation
The West Australian government is spending almost $450 million on public housing and fast-tracking land release approvals to ease the state’s housing affordability crisis.
The resources boom has pushed up WA property prices and has almost priced low income renters and seniors, as well as first home buyers, out of the market.
Premier Alan Carpenter has announced the $447 million funding boost, of which $417 million will be spent over four years, to help provide affordable public and seniors community housing.
Mr Carpenter said the new measures would include bond assistance and a significant increase in funding for affordable public, community and indigenous housing.
The WA government is also seeking a joint partner to establish a retirement village in Dalyellup to ease the demand for affordable seniors’ accommodation in the south-west.
The state government will purchase a 6.5 hectare of land in Dalyellup for $5.22 million, while the chosen provider will contribute the bulk of the capital costs and manage the village.
The Dalyellup Seniors’ Village Project will deliver up to 350 new independent living units and have a suitable mix of both public and private residents. It will also have flow-on benefits for families in the region seeking public housing, by freeing-up large homes currently under-occupied by seniors.
