Message from the Editor
In recent Cabinet changes, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced that the Hon Nick Champion MP is the Minister for the new Department of Housing and Urban Development, of which SA Housing Trust is a key part.
In a move that puts housing at the centre of the SA Government's policy agenda, this Department will be responsible for housing infrastructure, urban development, planning, and the work we do at the Trust. As part of the Machinery of Government, most of the Trust’s responsibilities for supporting the Homelessness Sector will transfer to the Department of Human Services (DHS) and our staff that deliver those services will also join DHS. This can be a challenging time for those impacted, and we will continue to support our colleagues through this change. We are incredibly grateful for the work these individuals have done and proud of their significant achievements over many years. We cannot thank them enough for their dedication and professionalism and wish them well in DHS.
The SA Government also announced its Housing Roadmap on 25 June. This is a comprehensive view of all the activities being conducted to increase housing supply and facilitate more growth.
Our role in this is central - The roadmap confirms how all the funding arrangements and partnering opportunities will come together, including our Public Housing Improvement Program, Social Housing Accelerator Payment, asset renewal programs and Affordable Housing Initiative.
The plan also gives us an opportunity to re-name as the South Australian Housing Trust. Now is the moment to broadcast the incredible role we play. The South Australian Housing Trust remains an extremely well recognised name within the community, and of course sometimes this has been for the wrong reasons. We are super proud of our organisation and it’s time to lean into this brand identity and showcase our amazing people and the services we provide. Bringing back the Housing Trust in a new era reflects our contemporary role in the housing system –now providing a broad range of services to the community.
We also welcome a review of our maintenance contracts, which will comprise surveys with key stakeholders and a round-table. We are very confident that the review will yield a positive outcome for us and our customers.
Please take a read of this latest newsletter which provides further updates on a range of incredible projects, but some of the headline initiatives include:
- $135.8 million to build an extra 442 social housing homes through the Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator Payment.
- Completion of 100 new homes under the Public Housing Investment Program
- 425 million to redevelop 36.4 hectares at Seaton for the construction of 1315 new homes, replacing existing aged housing on a 1:1 basis
- More affordable homes in Kidman Park
This is the most exciting time to be working in SA Housing Trust for many decades?
Our Housing Roadmap
This week the Premier announced the South Australian Housing Roadmap, Our pathway to better housing. This Housing Roadmap is a clear plan of action and commitment to deliver more homes for South Australians.
Over the coming months, you will see this campaign rolled out across the state showcasing the roadmap, with adverts featuring ‘more homes for South Australians’. The Roadmap Includes:
Largest ever land release
The State Government is fast-tracking what will be the single largest release of residential land in the state’s history – set to deliver more than 25,000 homes.
No stamp duty on new homes
The State Government has abolished stamp duty for first-home buyers on all new homes – including a house, flat, townhouse or apartment.
More rights for renters
The State Government has introduced a ban on rent bidding to make rental prices fairer, and changed the eligibility criteria for Private Rental Assistance, so more households can access financial support.
Training more workers
The State Government is investing significantly in jobs for the future, including more training courses aligned to the construction and infrastructure industry.
Building new homes faster
The State Government is reforming the planning process, to ensure new homes can be built faster, and more efficiently.
Investing in infrastructure
The State Government will make a record investment in major infrastructure to unlock housing growth in Adelaide’s greater north.
More public housing
The State Government has made significant investment in building, modernising and upgrading thousands of public homes, to unlock more opportunities for people who need housing security.
Improving Housing Outcomes for South Australians
We recently announced $135.8 million social housing accelerator funding in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.
The payment will deliver more than 442 new and improved social homes, as well as affordable and market rental homes for over 600 people in South Australia. Multiple projects are announced that will be funded under the Social Housing Accelerator along with $60 million of community housing contributions.
This includes:
- 4 innovative modular homes for Ceduna for eligible Aboriginal South Australians
- 48 new public housing homes in Camden Park on Anzac Highway, and 22 new apartments in Seaton, improving housing choices for our tenants
- 38 refurbished units at Glengowrie Court and 80 refurbished units at Drew Court, Oaklands Park
- The state’s first government-backed build-to-rent project, Wirra Mikangka, with Housing Choices SA
- Junction will deliver 50 new apartments as part of their new offices in Tonsley
- Uniting SA is creating 44 new apartments including public, community and affordable housing in Brompton and six new homes in Kidman park
- Community Housing Ltd are building two new apartment buildings in Prospect with 41 apartments in total
- YourPlace will deliver six new homes for people living with disability in O’Sullivan Beach and Klemzig
Together, these projects deliver specialist housing for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the community, including low-income households, women leaving Domestic and Family Violence (DFV), older women, people living with disability, those experiencing homelessness, people under Guardianship, and exiting institutions.
New public housing builds each major milestone
The commitment to boost public housing in South Australia has reached a major milestone with the completion of 100 new homes under the Public Housing Investment Program (PHIP). Marking the milestone, our teams and builders, Brazzale Homes, visited four new two-bedroom properties in Hectorville where the finishing touches were being made before new tenants moved in.
The mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties are being built across metropolitan Adelaide in dozens of suburbs, as well as seven regional areas.
The milestone comes as the Trust released details of where all 437 new builds under the PHIP will be constructed. So far, 102 homes have been completed, 110 are under construction and 91 homes are out for tender or in the final stages of tender assessment. The homes are due for completion by 2026.
National Reconciliation Week Breakfast 2024
Marking the start of National Reconciliation Week (NRW), staff and members of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee attended the NRW breakfast at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This was a significant event hosted by Reconciliation SA in South Australia every year. Noted as one of the largest NRW breakfasts, over 2800 attended the event. You can watch the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast on CTV+ at www.ctvplus.org.au.
Various teams within the Trust also did their bit towards Reconciliation by learning more about the Aboriginal culture, language, food habits, artifacts, and many more.
More affordable houses in Morris Street, Kidman Park
SA Housing Trust received a handover of eight newly constructed affordable homes at Morris Street, Kidman Park, just one of 1000 homes being developed by the organisation. Built by Rivergum Homes, the development included a blend of single-storey houses and two-storey townhouses, wonderfully positioned to enjoy the adjacent reserve.
These quality houses included stone kitchen benchtops, split system reverse cycle air-conditioning, and downlights throughout. Available exclusively through HomeSeeker SA to eligible homebuyers, all eight houses were sold off the plan within weeks of release to market with prices ranging from $455,000 to $490,000 – well below the suburb median of $909,500.
So, what's affordable housing?
Affordable housing is accommodation where a low-or moderate-income household pays no more than 30% of their annual income to rent or buy. This ensures that affordable housing is appropriate for the needs of a range of very low to moderate income households and priced so that these households are also able to meet other basic living costs such as food, clothing, transport, medical care, and education.
Spending more than 30% of your income on a mortgage or rent puts a person/household into housing stress. The recently revised price point for affordable homes is $495,000, which is well below the median Adelaide metropolitan house price of $760,000.
Announcement of two major housing developments
Two major housing developments were announced to deliver 1941 new homes in Adelaide’s western and southern suburbs. Following this was the announcement of the abolition of stamp duty for all first-home buyers or building a new home offering a big relief.
$425 million will be spent to redevelop 36.4 hectares at Seaton for the construction of 1315 new homes. All our existing homes will be replaced on a 1:1 basis and we have started to liaise with our tenants to ensure a suitable home is found. A further $150 million has been allocated to develop two parcels of vacant land at Port Noarlunga and Noarlunga Downs, with 80 new public housing homes.
A further $150 million has been allocated to develop two parcels of vacant land at Port Noarlunga and Noarlunga Downs, with 80 new public housing homes.
Morphettville transformation honours former housing Chair
In April, we opened Storkey Way in Morphettville, a new street named after Gary Storkey, former SA Housing Trust Board Presiding Member and decades-long leader and change driver in the housing sector. Morphettville in Adelaide’s south is being transformed into a modern and vibrant community as part of the Trust's significant urban renewal programs that are nearing completion.
This includes 200 new houses including affordable and public housing, and a new apartment building for senior tenants - Nilpena Horizons. Across from the Nilpena Horizons is the newly refurbished Appleby Road Reserve, complete with barbeque facilities, a playground, a half basketball court, and a half netball court, with the picturesque Warriparri/Sturt River flowing nearby. The project began in 2017 and has reached civil works completion, including the new road, Storkey Way, linking Appleby Road and Barham Avenue.
Gary was instrumental in setting up the government-backed lender HomeStart Finance, to provide affordable loans to lower-income to more than 60,000 South Australians, helping them achieve home ownership. He supported the innovative homeless-supported accommodation, Common Ground, in the city and held pivotal roles at Community Housing Provider, Community Housing Limited and with the Credit Ombudsman of Australia.
Blair Athol affordable homes completion
TThe first six of 67 newly constructed affordable homes in Blair Athol have been completed and is being handed over to their new homeowners. These builds are part of a large master-planned community – with 70 new public homes, 67 affordable homes and eight house and land packages, with new greenscapes, creating welcoming open areas around which families and communities can thrive.
Built by Rivergum Homes, these newly constructed two-bedroom homes with off-street car parking are just 20 minutes from the CBD. These new builds were sold from $475,000 and are part of the SA Housing Trust’s Affordable Housing Initiative – delivering 1,000 new affordable homes to eligible South Australians over five years. To find out if you are eligible or to sign up for alerts when the next 17 houses in Blair Athol are listed, visit homeseeker.sa.gov.au and register.
To find out if you are eligible or to sign up for alerts when the next 17 houses in Blair Athol are listed, visit homeseeker.sa.gov.au and register.
Customer services resumed at Berri
Customer services at our regional office in Berri, 29 Vaughan Terrace have resumed, following extensive flood damage in the Summer’s Riverland floods. Our hard-working staff continued to provide services from a temporary location while repairs were completed. We thank our customers for their patience.
Whole of Government banking transition
The Trust recently transitioned its banking services from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) to ANZ Banking Group Limited (ANZ). This is in line with a whole of government initiative. Our customers and tenants will be affected by the following changes. Two changes will affect how customers make payments to us. Customers who have been using these payment methods will be contacted soon to inform about these changes.
- BPOINT will be replaced by Online Card Payment (ANZ’s online payment service)
- Customers who currently pay us via EFT will need to update our bank details for future EFT payments
Private Rental Assistance Program (PRAP) cheques
Our current CBA-issued PRAP cheques will be replaced with ANZ cheques. Landlords and agents are advised to cash the CBA cheques before 26 July 2024. For more queries, please reach out to your Housing Officer.
