Broome shire issues govt housing challenge

The Shire of Broome has challenged the state government and industry to follow its footsteps and build new homes for staff instead of leasing from the town’s tight rental market.

Shire councillors have backed a motion to funnel a $2.96 million treasury loan into construction of four new staff homes as part of a plan to boost the shire’s key worker housing portfolio from eight to 18.

The move comes amid a backdrop of major projects in the works near Broome heaping further pressure on the town’s market – with a shortfall of between 100 and 650 homes identified by 2026 depending on how many of the projects get up.

Former Shire president Desiree Male said relocating new employees to Broome was near-impossible without staff housing at the moment.

“This is our number one topic that we raise with every minister that walks through our door because it’s our number one issue that we’re facing,” she said.

“The government does have land that they have had on hold for building for sometimes 10-plus years, so we are putting pressure on them to start building their own houses instead of flooding the rental market.

“With industry when these projects come up we say ‘what’s your plan for housing’, because we already have pressures here without these projects that are starting up.”

Broome has been locked deep in a rental supply and affordability crisis since the outbreak of COVID, with availability rarely venturing above 1 per cent and average prices rising to $1000 a week in that time.

The finger has mostly been pointed at state government regional officer housing and holiday homes for reducing the number of rentals available to the market.

The state owns 90 of about 420 GROH properties in Broome and has a further five under contract or construction.

Housing Minister John Carey said the $180 million GROH program was using spot purchasing, modular builds, leasing and partnerships with local governments and developers to address the issue and ensure accommodation for critical workers.

“Ensuring regional communities have access to critical State Government workers, such as teachers and police officers, is essential for achieving strong communities,” he said.

“I’ve repeatedly said publicly that we face significant constraints and challenges due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions and subsequent heated construction market, in securing necessary trades to undertake a range of construction and refurbishment works and maintenance.

“This has been particularly felt across some regions in WA and an example of this is the flooding events in the Kimberley, which have further impacted demand for trades and materials.”

Cr Male said some local builders had told the shire they had capacity to build to short timeframes at the moment.

Build costs, excluding land purchase, are expected to come in at about $461,500 for the three-bed homes.

The shire hopes to begin construction next year.

Source Photo & Text: Businessnews.com.au (8th September 2023)