Mr MITCHELL - 2000-05-11
Some members may recall that back in the late 1960s, early 1970s when the Kurringal units were first built in Fannie Bay we all thought what a great big modern city we were becoming with all those big flash units, but certainly the Kurringal units are no longer in keeping with the government’s modern approach to public housing. Can the minister tell us what plans are afoot? I hear some things are going on, but what plans are afoot for the Kurringal complex?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for asking this question. I know he has a particular interest in public housing. I am sure all members of the House, including the member for Fannie Bay will be pleased with the announcement that we are making today about a redevelopment at Kurringal.
As the member said, Kurringal was built in the 1960s and the style of 8 blocks of 4-storey 1 and 2 bedroom units is completely outdated in our Housing 2003 policy that we announced a couple of years ago. We said we would be building 1 and 2 bedroom units with small yards, which is the far more appropriate style of living that people want today. You only have to go down to Coconut Grove to see the development that is well on the way there and which should be finished mid December.
Government has decided that we need to look at Kurringal and have a long term plan, and this financial year $1m has been set aside to start on this. What we intend to do, because Kurringal has a 30% attrition rate every year, is to relocate people from 2 blocks. In our budget we will be announcing many of the developments that will be occurring. You already know we have Coconut Grove, we have Leanyer, we have Wanguri. There will be others announced next week. We will relocate the people in these 2 blocks that we have identified. It is here for the member for Fannie Bay, in particular, to see. These 2 blocks will be first off the rank.
These two blocks, 6 and 8, will be retained for longer term use. We realise that we cannot do this in a hurry, and we have to make sure we have appropriate housing for the others. These are the ones we are planning to start off first. We will then go to the next 4. They shall be retained a bit longer.
Our budget this year includes upgrades for lifts, which have been a worry at Kurringal for some time, and for the demolition. Let me reassure tenants - and I add our tenancy managers are out there this morning visiting them and explaining what is happening - that if they don’t wish to leave Kurringal, and it may surprise the member for Fannie Bay but there are many tenants who live there who really enjoy living at Kurringal, then we will just relocate them to units as they become empty. The other ones, who wish to, will be offered some of our brand new units in other parts of the developments. Let’s face it, if you had the choice between living on the fourth floor of Kurringal and a brand new unit in Coconut Grove, what would you take? I am quite sure there will be many people out there will be very happy with what we are doing.
This will be at no cost to the tenant. We will cover the cost of moving expenses, telephone, power connections, and those sort of things. It is at no cost whatsoever.
Ms Martin: But what is happening to the land?
Mrs BRAHAM: What is going to happen to the land? As we demolish we have two options. We have the option to build more public housing in the style that we are doing at the moment. That is, more appropriate for the year 2000, this century, than it was for the 1960s. Or we have the option of selling some also. They are the two options government can decide on once we have managed to relocate and clear these two areas.
This is a long term plan; it is not going to happen overnight. It will take us 12 months to actually empty those units, those blocks, and relocate the people to an appropriate area. I am quite sure that at the end of the day, because Kurringal is so dense, because there are 350 people living in a small area, they will be pleased with having the option to be relocated in a brand new 1 or 2 bedroom unit, purpose built for the seniors. At Kurringal at the moment we have single mums with children, and that is inappropriate in some places. We have people with disabilities and we have senior citizens.
This is a really good move for those people who live there. Government is taking a most responsible attitude by doing this for the people of Kurringal, showing them that we can offer them a lifestyle in a complex that is more appropriate to this day and age.I am quite sure that when the residents out there hear about this they will be very, very pleased indeed.
I table this map so people can see what is happening. I recommend that all of you, if you get a chance, have a look at the units that are being built at Coconut Grove. That will give you an example of the style of housing that we intend to provide for public housing tenants in the Northern Territory - this government providing housing for the people who need it most.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for asking this question. I know he has a particular interest in public housing. I am sure all members of the House, including the member for Fannie Bay will be pleased with the announcement that we are making today about a redevelopment at Kurringal.
As the member said, Kurringal was built in the 1960s and the style of 8 blocks of 4-storey 1 and 2 bedroom units is completely outdated in our Housing 2003 policy that we announced a couple of years ago. We said we would be building 1 and 2 bedroom units with small yards, which is the far more appropriate style of living that people want today. You only have to go down to Coconut Grove to see the development that is well on the way there and which should be finished mid December.
Government has decided that we need to look at Kurringal and have a long term plan, and this financial year $1m has been set aside to start on this. What we intend to do, because Kurringal has a 30% attrition rate every year, is to relocate people from 2 blocks. In our budget we will be announcing many of the developments that will be occurring. You already know we have Coconut Grove, we have Leanyer, we have Wanguri. There will be others announced next week. We will relocate the people in these 2 blocks that we have identified. It is here for the member for Fannie Bay, in particular, to see. These 2 blocks will be first off the rank.
These two blocks, 6 and 8, will be retained for longer term use. We realise that we cannot do this in a hurry, and we have to make sure we have appropriate housing for the others. These are the ones we are planning to start off first. We will then go to the next 4. They shall be retained a bit longer.
Our budget this year includes upgrades for lifts, which have been a worry at Kurringal for some time, and for the demolition. Let me reassure tenants - and I add our tenancy managers are out there this morning visiting them and explaining what is happening - that if they don’t wish to leave Kurringal, and it may surprise the member for Fannie Bay but there are many tenants who live there who really enjoy living at Kurringal, then we will just relocate them to units as they become empty. The other ones, who wish to, will be offered some of our brand new units in other parts of the developments. Let’s face it, if you had the choice between living on the fourth floor of Kurringal and a brand new unit in Coconut Grove, what would you take? I am quite sure there will be many people out there will be very happy with what we are doing.
This will be at no cost to the tenant. We will cover the cost of moving expenses, telephone, power connections, and those sort of things. It is at no cost whatsoever.
Ms Martin: But what is happening to the land?
Mrs BRAHAM: What is going to happen to the land? As we demolish we have two options. We have the option to build more public housing in the style that we are doing at the moment. That is, more appropriate for the year 2000, this century, than it was for the 1960s. Or we have the option of selling some also. They are the two options government can decide on once we have managed to relocate and clear these two areas.
This is a long term plan; it is not going to happen overnight. It will take us 12 months to actually empty those units, those blocks, and relocate the people to an appropriate area. I am quite sure that at the end of the day, because Kurringal is so dense, because there are 350 people living in a small area, they will be pleased with having the option to be relocated in a brand new 1 or 2 bedroom unit, purpose built for the seniors. At Kurringal at the moment we have single mums with children, and that is inappropriate in some places. We have people with disabilities and we have senior citizens.
This is a really good move for those people who live there. Government is taking a most responsible attitude by doing this for the people of Kurringal, showing them that we can offer them a lifestyle in a complex that is more appropriate to this day and age.I am quite sure that when the residents out there hear about this they will be very, very pleased indeed.
I table this map so people can see what is happening. I recommend that all of you, if you get a chance, have a look at the units that are being built at Coconut Grove. That will give you an example of the style of housing that we intend to provide for public housing tenants in the Northern Territory - this government providing housing for the people who need it most.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016