HOUSING TRUST

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (14:54): My question is to the minister representing the minister for community housing. Can the minister advise the house as to the number of people who are waiting for Housing Trust homes in Port Pirie and Clare and the time period they have been waiting? Can the minister also please explain why the 36 homes in Port Pirie are vacant, which have been identified in my freedom of information request last month?

The SPEAKER: Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:54): Thank you, Mr Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —and I thank the member for Frome for his question. There is obviously quite a bit of specificity in that question, member for Frome, and I am more than happy to take that on notice and have discussions with the relevant minister about that.

30/4/2019 – HOUSING TRUST
In reply to the Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (13 February 2019).
The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning): The Minister for Human Services has provided the following advice—

1. As at 28 February 2019, there were 687 applications in either category 1 (17 per cent), category 2 (22 per cent) or category 3 (61 per cent) where customers had  selected housing in either Port Pirie and/or Clare.
Number of applications            Time waited
155                                           Less than six months
125                                           Six to 12 months
114                                           12 to 24 months
293                                           24 months +

2. Of the 1383 total Housing Trust properties in Port Pirie, including Port Pirie South and Port Pirie West, 36 properties are currently vacant:
• one was under offer
• six were undergoing major maintenance
• ten were undergoing vacancy maintenance and
• 19 were vacant due to other reasons, including but not limited to: capital projects, sales and acquisitions, proposed sale or redevelopment, offer accepted, under assessment or undergoing an abandoned good process.