ANDREW Barr says the ACT Government is well on the way to meeting its commitment to provide nearly 1300 new, modern homes for our public housing tenants, with half the required sites already identified.

“The public housing renewal program, including construction and purchasing, will ensure our tenants have the high quality accommodation they deserve,”

“Building the new homes will also support more than 2,500 construction jobs.

“The program is supporting the ACT Government’s determination to ensure public housing is spread evenly across the city. This breaks down concentrations of disadvantage and gives tenants the opportunity to contribute positively and share in the benefits of their local community.

“By 2019 we will have built up to 1288 new dwellings for public housing tenants. This is the largest program of public housing construction since self government.

“The Public Housing Renewal Taskforce has identified more than half of the replacement dwellings needed, and is continuing to negotiate and progress locations for the remainder in both new and established areas. Construction of new public housing has begun in Monash and Chisholm, with 45 dwellings to be complete next year. Planning and design work is progressing for 300 dwellings in Nicholls, Amaroo, Coombs and Moncrieff.

“The Taskforce is negotiating to purchase suitable residential properties from the private sector, and is finalising contracts on 17 of the more than 30 proposals received in response to a call for expressions of interest earlier this year, which will add around 200 more dwellings.

“Plans for seven sites of up to 30 dwellings each in Denman Prospect, Holt, Southquay, Throsby, Greenway, Stirling and Franklin are likely to add another 200 dwellings.

“Work is underway to identify the remaining sites needed from a mix of sources including expressions of interest, community facilities, infill and green field sites.”