Housing Minister Colin Holt and Defence Housing Australia’s Mark Turtle signed a memorandum of understanding in Perth last week.
Camera IconHousing Minister Colin Holt and Defence Housing Australia’s Mark Turtle signed a memorandum of understanding in Perth last week. Credit: Supplied/Jon Bassett

Military in the mix under housing plan

Jon BassettStirling Times

"It will mainly be for army personnel as it's within their patch, including Irwin, Campbell and Leeuwin barracks," DHA regional director Mark Turtle said.

Last week, DHA and Housing Minister Colin Holt signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Government-owned land for an undecided mix of military, affordable and social homes on an Ashton Avenue, Claremont lot, vacant for six years, and a block at Morris Road, Innaloo, starting mid-2016.

Mr Turtle said SAS soldiers' families affected by the proposed redevelopment of Seaward Village at Campbell Barracks could choose to move to the Claremont homes which would be "quite secure", with security including door and window grilles.

He said the development was not connected to DHA seeking alternatives to housing SAS families during any demolition of the village and was the result of more defence force members in WA.

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Mr Turtle defended putting defence personnel with the social housing comprising about 10 per cent of the developments and said soldiers on operations often considered their work to be in defence of those less fortunate at home.

"In the cases of 85 to 95 per cent of social housing you don't know who they are, and they could already be in this street, but we will be vetting the residents to make sure at this development," Housing Minister Colin Holt said.

The developments will include private sales and affordable housing below market prices to fulfil the Government's Affordable Housing Strategy, which has built 19,000 homes of the 20,000 planned by 2020.