New social housing complex to be built in Redcliffe

Published 12:20pm 4 May 2022

A new social housing complex is set to be built in Redcliffe by the State Government as part of its $1 billion Housing Investment Fund.

The eight-storey complex will be built at 99 Sutton Street, and will comprise of 84 single bedroom apartments, catering for seniors and empty nesters.

Early works for the Redcliffe development will start later this year, with tenants able to move in from September 2024.

Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the project was part of the largest investment in social and affordable housing in Queensland’s history.

“Our government is committed to delivering social and affordable housing through a range of fit-for-purpose initiatives, and the Housing Investment Fund is just the latest of these,” Mr Dick said.

“This project at Redcliffe will comprise of 84 single bedroom apartments in a combination of affordable and social housing.

“They’ll be aimed at seniors and empty nesters looking to downsize, which is exactly the right market here on the peninsula.

“That will then free up more properties for larger families, increasing the benefit provided by the Housing Investment Fund.”

The Housing Investment Fund is targeting four housing supply priorities to increase social housing and affordable housing. These include homelessness and rough sleeping, diverse rental supply, housing choices for seniors and homes for large households.

Long-term, quality housing will be provided for people at risk of experiencing homelessness, women and children escaping domestic violence, First Nations people, single older women, families, young people, seniors, and people with disability.

At this morning’s press conference, the State Government also announced another project which will be built in Ethel Street at Chermside.

The Chermside development will offer a different mix of housing, with 28 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units.

Construction on the Chermside site will begin before the end of the year, with first tenants to move in by September 2023.

The two buildings are set to create 128 jobs.

Above: A design of the new eight-storey building that will be built on Sutton Street.

Project to be delivered by an experienced company

The Redcliffe Social Housing project in Sutton Street will be delivered by community housing provider, Brisbane Housing Company.

Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Oelkers said the company has a strong relationship with the Queensland Government.

“Brisbane Housing Company has been providing housing for 20 years across Brisbane, and we have had a terrific relationship and partnership with the State Government,” she said.

“The State Government’s Housing Initiative Fund is a different kind of fund – it’s innovation in how we fund social and affordable housing.

“This fund is going to change the way we provide social and affordable housing.

“We know the issue of social and affordable housing isn’t a small problem – it’s a growing problem – and so providing housing at scale is incredibly important.”

How to apply for accommodation

With this new housing complex set to generate a lot of interest from the community, Ms Oelkers said it was important people understand the process for applying.

“When this housing is built here in Redcliffe, people will need to put their names on the public housing wait list and then they will also need to contact Brisbane Housing Company,” she said.

“We will then talk to our allocation staff, and they will talk about the eligibility for the accommodation here, and then take it from there.

“Some of those people might be people who are already in public housing here in Redcliffe, or they might be people who are just finding it hard to make ends meet on really low incomes.”

Above: Member for Redcliffe Yvette D'Ath, Treasurer Cameron Dick, Minister for Housing Leeanne Enoch and Brisbane Housing Company CEO Rebecca Oelkers look over the plans for the building at the site.

A real need for this area

Speaking at this morning’s press conference, Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said many Queenslanders were worried about how they will put a roof over their head.

“We know that right across Queensland social and affordable housing is something many Queenslanders are seeking,” she said.

“Our strong partnerships like the partnership with Brisbane Housing Company are vital to providing Queenslanders with more affordable housing options.”

Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath said she was excited to see Redcliffe be part of the first project of the Housing Investment Fund.

“Housing has been a real issue for our community for some time,” she said.

“The demand in this area has significantly grown in the last two years.

“I cannot go anywhere in this community without having a conversation about homelessness, people living in our parks, under the bridges – there’s a lot of people hurting right now.

“That has been exacerbated by COVID and property owners selling their homes and pushing renters out. Also, rental properties are significantly going up in cost.

“And there was also the flood earlier this year. I have had to assist many people to get accommodation in partnership with housing, and many of those are elderly women.

“We know senior women are part of the most vulnerable group in becoming homeless in our area.

“That is why I am thrilled we are getting 84 new homes for people, and it’s targeted to seniors and people who want to downsize.

“I know a lot of these people will be women. I know some women who have lived on the peninsula for decades have now been pushed off the peninsula because it is no longer affordable for them.”

Ms D’Ath said the facilities inside the building will also allow for family members to visit.

“I want to make it clear that when it says one bedroom, it also comes with an additional multi-purpose room and that can be used as a bed sit for grandkids to come and visit and stay over,” she said.

“We don’t want our seniors to be socially isolated, so it’s important for our seniors to have their family come and visit and stay with them.”

Community group welcomes the announcement

Chameleon Regional Community Housing Accommodation and Welfare Association Inc Manager Carmel Riethmuller has welcomed the news of a new social housing complex on the peninsula.

“With Redcliffe having just come through the floods and being one of the most impacted areas in southeast Queensland, I think this is great news for the region,” she said.

“Chameleon House helped 49 people in our disaster response to the floods, and a large number of those were people over the age of 50 and mostly single women.

“Their homes were inhabitable, and many had to be demolished. A few of those people are still impacted because of the lack of social housing in the area.

“With the floods, the rise in rent and the cost of living, this is perfect timing for our community.

“This is a great start for the Redcliffe area, and I think we are very fortunate to have been the recipient for this lot of social housing.”