Apartments could cut housing wait

New apartment complexes in Bunbury could cater for a “massive” waitlist of people wanting to get into public housing.

The Housing Authority has revealed more apartment-like housing could cater for the growing demand, while acting Mayor Brendan Kelly says the new town planning scheme allows for such developments.

The public housing waitlist for the South West is almost double any other regional area across the State and on average, people and families have to wait up to three years before they get into a home.

A startling 1378 people are on the South West waitlist, compared to the next closest of 755 in the Mid-West and Gascoyne region.

Cr Kelly says the numbers are “too high”.

“Housing stock right around Australia is being squeezed,” Cr Kelly said.

“It is massive and down on the far end of it is the homelessness issue.”

It comes as statistics reveal public housing in Withers is still about 22 per cent, despite reports it was around the 17 per cent mark in May this year when the Housing Authority vowed to reduce the number to 11.

The housing provider last week signed an agreement with Bunbury City Council and the South West Development Commission for an urban renewal program in Withers.

Part of that program could include 25 public housing properties going on the market in a bid to deconcentrate the suburb and replacement homes being scattered across Bunbury.

Another plan could include apartment buildings to help demand in Bunbury, according to the authority.

Cr Kelly said the Local Planning Scheme 8, which is out for public comment, provided the flexibility for apartment building developments.

“If it fits into our town plan eight, and I’m sure it will, then we can increase housing stock and we can increase the diversity of housing stock and that’s the aim,” Cr Kelly said.

“We’ve got space that can be developed and it will be developed and it will be developed along best practice.”