Shovels in ground for new homes

Construction is underway in Caboolture on 24 new one-bedroom social homes, which are expected to be completed mid-next year.

The units, in Lower King Street, will also allow people to downsize from their current home, freeing up larger homes for families.

With accessibility in mind, with three apartments are being built to Platinum, nine to Gold and 12 to Silver standard under the state’s Liveable Housing Guidelines.

This makes them suitable for people with a disability and seniors with mobility needs.

Murphy Builders are delivering the project, which follows recent completion of a 10-home complex and 20-home complex in Caboolture.

Around 53,500 social homes set to be built as part of the State Government’s Homes for Queenslanders plan.

Leone lives in a recently-completed accessible social housing unit with husband Ian, a former Naval officer, paralysed after a stroke four years ago.

“I love our little unit,” she said, “we’ve got a patio and a garden. I can help Ian into his wheelchair and we can duck to the little shopping complex, which has a bakery, butcher, newsagent and the like, for the basics.”

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the Homes for Queenslanders plan is “getting more shovels in the ground and tradies on the tools to build the homes Queenslanders need”.

Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said meeting the local housing team and hearing stories of people our social homes “reinforces why we’re delivering the Homes for Queenslanders plan”.

Anyone who needs housing assistance can contact the Caboolture Housing Service Centre on 5432 0700 during business hours or call the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.