Minister Announces Housing Trust as Partner for Social Housing Development Sites

The Hon. Melinda Pavey MP, Minister for Water, Property and Housing has announced Housing Trust and Traders in Purple as the Government’s development partners for two Illawarra sites set to deliver 100 social, affordable and private dwellings to the Wollongong LGA. The new homes are being built in Robert Street, Corrimal and Crown Street, Wollongong as part of NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s Communities Plus Program. The projects will transform vacant land into new and vibrant, mixed housing communities. Minister Pavey visited both sites on Wednesday, May 20 and was joined by Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services The Hon. Gareth Ward along with Local Member for Wollongong Paul Scully who showed bi-partisan support for the developments. Housing Trust will purchase the major proportion of the Roberts Street property, 28 units and townhouses, and has been appointed to manage the social housing units on behalf of the NSW Government. Housing Trust CEO Michele Adair said each opportunity to increase affordable housing in the Illawarra was an important step forward. “Housing Trust is proud to be recognised as the local expert provider best placed to manage the tenancies in these developments. We will be investing $15M in the Roberts Street site initially and in our ongoing maintenance programs” she said.  “Wollongong is the third most expensive city in Australia, only behind Sydney and Melbourne.  We can’t wait to give the keys to tenants. The reality is that you can’t educate your children, find and keep a job, or manage your health without a safe, affordable roof over your head.” Minister Pavey said the two projects, valued at $36 million, will feature modern townhouses and new apartment buildings indistinguishable from their surrounding communities and help meet the area’s high demand for more affordable housing. “Mixed housing communities are designed to enhance social outcomes with new and better housing and that’s why the NSW Government is investing in building these exciting projects – not just in this region but throughout NSW,” she said. Traders In Purple have a strong local connection to the Illawarra Region over two decades. They have a clear track record of designing and delivering high quality homes that revitalise local communities and improve tenant experiences. The two projects will also deliver critical and timely local economic benefits during construction with the projects anticipated to generate around 70 direct jobs and a further 100 indirect jobs. Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the project will provide homes for some of the community’s most vulnerable. “Our government is increasing the supply of housing in new and innovative ways so that we can provide a roof over the head of those who need it most,” Mr Ward said. Member for Wollongong Paul Scully agreed. “I will continue to advocate for social and affordable housing to be spread throughout our community.  No longer should it be the case that people in social housing are pushed further and further out to the suburban fringe.” Traders In Purple Director Charles Daoud said his group will focus on employing local consultants and subcontractors, and buying local supplies from Illawarra businesses as part of the development application and delivery process. Construction is due to begin in the next few months on the Robert Street site. A development application for the Crown Street site is expected to be lodged with Wollongong City Council in the next six months, with construction to start in early 2022 subject to planning approvals.