MAJOR STIMULUS MILESTONE -  500th HOME IN NSW

Minister for Housing David Borger today announced that work has commenced on the 500th home to be delivered under the Australian Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

Mr Borger made the announcement at the Cessnock site with Federal MP for the Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon and State MP for Cessnock Kerry Hickey.

“The Federal Government is investing $2 billion as part of its Stimulus Plan to build more than 6,500 new social housing homes in NSW and on top of that, the NSW Government is also investing one billion dollars to build another 3,000 new homes,” Mr Borger said.

“The Stimulus Plan is all about securing jobs and since the NSW Government began working on the Stimulus Plan more than 5000 have been secured in the Housing industry across NSW.

“At a time when we are facing a global recession and there are job cuts nation wide, this is a tangible example that our massive investment in the construction industry is paying off.

“We are embarking on the biggest social housing infrastructure program in decades – the first stage of the project which includes the construction of over 850 homes in NSW is well underway.”

“The project at 46-54 Buckland Avenue, Cessnock comprises 13 x two bedroom Seniors Living units, with nine ground floor and four first floor units with work set to commence this month,” said Mr Hickey.

“This $3.24m development at Cessnock will be built by Perle Pty Ltd and has been designed to include strong environmental features such as solar hot water, low maintenance landscaping throughout the property to minimise the rate of water usage and water harvesting.

“Work on this project is expected to be completed in April 2010 and will provide much needed jobs for 32 tradesmen and labourers and six apprentices.

“The 500th dwelling in construction represents 58.4% of the total Stage 1 program which will see 856 homes delivered by June next year,” said Mr Fitzgibbon.

“Stage 1 work to date has seen construction started in 75 locations on 589 dwellings (mix of units, villas, townhouses, duplexes, houses).

“This translates to $153,200,000 worth of construction supporting more than 1,377 jobs,” said Mr Fitzgibbon.

Mr Borger said another important part of the Stimulus Plan is the new investment in maintenance and NSW has been allocated $130.4 million from the Federal Government.

“The Commonwealth’s investment compliments the NSW Government’s own funding and the record $200 million the Premier brought forward late last year for maintenance to further stimulate the economy,” Mr Borger said.

“Over $1.3 million is being invested in planned maintenance in Cessnock to upgrade 206 social housing homes as part of the Federal and State Stimulus Plan.

“Projects include installing new bathrooms and kitchens, painting, new carpet, plumbing and re-wiring.

“Because we undertake regular property inspections we have been able to immediately start work on properties and accelerate work which had been planned for future years.”

June 29, 2009