Social housing moves to one in every nine

Commercial and business operations general manager Paul Whyte said Koondoola had the highest proportion of public housing to private residences, at about 12 per cent as of July.

‘This level of housing is in line with the department’s target of one in nine properties being allocated for social housing in existing suburbs,’ he said.

Mr Whyte said within the City of Joondalup, Joondalup itself had the highest number at 166, and highest proportion, 4 per cent, of public housing, putting it well below the upper target and average across the metropolitan region.

He said the department built 32 social housing properties in the City of Joondalup last financial year, and eight in the City of Wanneroo, with another 28 currently under construction.

‘Over the last 20 years, the State Government has focused on integrating social housing into the broader community,’ Mr Whyte said.

‘This has resulted in the very successful efforts to dismantle old out-dated public housing areas in suburbs such as Balga, Girrawheen, Lockridge and Kwinana.

‘This has also seen social housing integrated into new and developing suburbs to ensure opportunities for diverse households and families to benefit from the growth and development of Perth.

‘To ensure appropriate levels of social diversity and vibrancy are created, the department ensures around one in nine properties in its developments are allocated to social housing.’

Mr Whyte said on July 31 there were 1138 applicants on the public housing waiting list for the north city zone, which included central Perth.

‘For applicants housed between August 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the average waiting time was 127 weeks and 70 weeks for priority-listed applicants,’ he said.

‘The department allocates properties to applicants on the waiting list according to the order in which they apply.

‘Factors influencing the time an applicant may wait include the area in which housing is being sought, turnover of properties in the region, the type of accommodation required and the number of people ahead of the applicant on the wait list.’