Modular housing being explored under $224m NSW government package to ease crisis
The New South Wales government will explore using modular homes to boost housing supply as part of a $224m package.
Ahead of Tuesday’s state budget, the government said the new package would target housing insecurity, which could then help reduce the social housing waitlist.
Funding would extend access to temporary accommodation and provide a boost to the state’s specialist homelessness services. The package would also include funding to explore options in modular housing to build much-needed homes quicker.
Chris Minns open to a NSW voice to parliament regardless of federal referendum outcome
Read more
The housing minister, Rose Jackson, said a secure house was more than just a piece of infrastructure, it was a home for people to raise their families.
“It is too hard for too many young people and young families in this state to have that home, we know that and we recognise the challenge,” she told reporters on Saturday.
The package would include $70m to accelerate social and affordable home builds, $35.3m for housing services for Indigenous people and families, and $35m for maintenance to existing social housing.
It would also reserve $20m for dedicated mental health housing, $15m to boost homelessness services and $11m in emergency funding for temporary accommodation.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
But the opposition’s housing spokesperson, Scott Farlow, said the government would never be able to provide the number of homes it was promising.
He said the recent cancellation of a public housing development in the NSW mid-north coast town of Coffs Harbour proved Labor was not serious about affordable housing.
“It’s strange that the government would put $70m towards accelerating the delivery of social and affordable homes, primarily in regional NSW, when just last week they cancelled much needed projects like the Argyll Estate redevelopment,” Farlow said.
Housing Now, a major alliance of business, unions and advocacy groups, said the community wanted to see investment in all types of housing options.
“It’s very hard to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, raise a family, run a business or pursue a career when you are struggling to keep a roof over your head,” the alliance’s chair, David Borger, said.
“The increase in funding for public housing maintenance is essential to reducing the vacancy rate and ensuring valuable social housing does not sit idle while the public housing waiting list grows.”
The government would also scrap existing electric vehicle incentives such as rebates for purchases and stamp duty exemptions, arguing they drive up the price rather than encourage buyers.
The premier, Chris Minns, on Saturday rejected claims the move would reduce incentives for potential buyers of the environmentally friendly cars.
Sign up to Morning Mail
Free daily newsletter
Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters
Enter your email address
Sign up
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
A $260m commitment to supercharge the uptake of electric vehicles would be outlined in the budget, the government said, which would included infrastructure projects and upgrades that prioritise regional NSW, renters, apartment dwellers and people who don’t have access to home chargers.
Fast chargers on commuter routes, more kerbside chargers near apartment blocks and upgraded grid capacity and charging hubs to support fleets were expected to be among the funded projects.
But some existing incentives would end from 1 January 2024, although those who had already placed a deposit would still be able to access the incentives even if their electric vehicle was delivered after that date.
How to get the best secondhand electric car for your budget in 2023
Read more
Minns said scrapping the rebates would not result in people choosing not to buy an electric car.
“The evidence that we had from Treasury was that the subsidy was just being added to the sticker price, so you’re seeing (car) prices increase as a result,” he said.
“Anyone who has got an electric vehicle will tell you the number one challenge is charging stations and that’s exactly where we’re going to put our money.”
But the Electric Vehicle Council said data showed the incentives were working to encourage drivers to transition.
The council argued sales had gone up by 450% and the most popular EV models had fallen in price by $8,000 since the NSW rebates were established.