North Coogee: WA Government builds 38 social housing dwellings through Social Housing Accelerator Payment Fund

Coogee will become home to Perth’s next social housing development, as the State Government confirmed it had met an election commitment to deliver 3300 social housing dwellings by mid-2025. The $23.45 million project — funded by the Federal Government’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator Payment fund — will see 38 new social housing dwellings built along Reinforcement Parade in North Coogee by late next year. The accommodation, by PARC Developments, will include 12 one-bedroom, 24 two-bedroom and two studio apartments. Housing Minister John Carey on Tuesday said the dwellings would be constructed out of prefab masonry; pre-built panels that are manufactured off-site and later assembled at the construction site. He said this meant the project would be complete in just 16 months — about eight months faster than traditional housing construction projects. “This is an innovative project where masonry walls are created off site,” he said. “It’s brought together and then slotted together. “What this means is that the turn around time to build this is faster ... because of this prefab masonry, this should be completed in 16 months which is quite extraordinary given the current construction market.” Mr Carey said there was high demand for social housing, with about 22,000 people on the waitlist. “The pressures are there, the demand is there,” he said. “I have a responsibility to get more homes on the ground, because if we don’t make this investment, then the social consequences will be dramatic. “I understand from time to time that people can have apprehension, but the reality is that we do need to keep delivering social and affordable housing, because then we risk the consequences of having more rough sleepers.” PARC Developments director Pete Adams said the development would “lay the foundations for a vibrant new community.” “The (Federal Government’s) investment combined with the State Government’s dedication directly addresses the growing demand for social and affordable housing, and provides secure and comfortable homes for individuals and families in this community,” he said. Federal Fremantle MP Josh Wilson said the Albanese Government had made an “enormous investment” to tackle the housing crisis. “We know we need more housing in the system and we’re doing that in a range of different ways,” he said. “This particular fund enables projects like this that are well advanced to be added to the State’s social housing stock.” Mr Carey also confirmed the State Government had met a 2021 election commitment to fund 3300 new public housing properties by mid-2025. “Back in 2021 when we announced the single biggest injection into social housing, we set ourselves a target date by this of 3300 social homes,” he said. “I’m pleased to report that we’ve met that figure. What this means is that we can house people off that critical waitlist.” It comes less than a week after East Perth residents lashed out at the State Government’s secrecy over a deal to house hundreds of social and affordable housing tenants in the former Fraser Suites luxury hotel. Those living in the precinct said they feared the price of their homes would plummet amid a rise in antisocial behaviour, and said they only learned about the project through an article in The West Australian. But Mr Carey assured the State Government had followed the “proper planning process” for the Coogee project. “Like any other development we go through the proper planning processes, but our obligation is to ensure that we are building social and affordable homes,” he said.