$40m housing lift

Hamish Heard
A $40 million building program would put roofs over the heads of 200 disadvantaged families at Norlane, State Government announced yesterday.
Member for Lara John Eren said the project would also spruce up a further 100 existing public housing properties in the suburb.
Mr Eren called the project a big win for constituents doing it tough.
“Coming from a workingclass background, making these types of announcements are where I get the most pleasure from the job because it’s something that will simply make life much better for the battlers,” he said.
The Government would demolish other dilapidated Department of Housing properties under the scheme.
“Obviously the Government has made a decision that people in my electorate deserve to have decent accommodation,” Mr Eren said.
“Leading up to last year’s state election, my opponents claimed that safe Labor seats don’t get anything from the Government. Clearly, they are wrong.”
Acting Premier John Thwaites said the Norlane project was the biggest single project announced under the Bracks Government’s $510 million boost to social and public housing in last week’s budget.
“This is great news for Norlane,” he said.
“It will not only deliver muchneeded new public and social housing but is also a significant boost to jobs in the region.”
Mr Thwaites said the $40 million Norlane project would deliver a mix of social and public dwellings as well as significant redevelopments of existing properties.
Building will commence on more than 30 new homes over five sites before the end of this financial year.
The remaining 170 properties would commence in the following three years.
The Government would build some of the new properties in partnership with notforprofit housing associations.
Another 100 Office of Housing properties at Norlane would undergo more than $1 million worth of upgrades including new carpets, painting and fencing.
Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the $510 million allocation in the state budget had brought the Bracks Government’s existing public housing commitments to $1.4 billion.