Access takes out national award

Member news News Western Australia

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Access Housing’s Haven @ Rockingham development claimed the prestigious Best Affordable Housing Development award at the 2018 Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards.

The Property Council of Australia’s National Innovation and Excellence Awards is one of the most revered property awards programs in Australia, promoting excellence in design and innovation in the built environment since 1982.

Completed in November 2016, Haven is an architecturally designed three-level mixed use development comprised of 28 stylish apartments, four townhouses and three commercial spaces within a secure, boutique complex.

Haven provides much-needed affordable rental housing for a diverse range of people, which is provided through homes retained by Access Housing for Community Housing purposes and homes sold to National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) investors to help increase the supply of affordable rental housing within the community. Owner-occupiers can also purchase a new, affordable home within Haven outright or in partnership with Access Housing through the company’s Home Choice shared equity home ownership program.

Haven is located close to public transport routes and interchanges and is only minutes to the Rockingham foreshore. Other amenities such as schools, parks, sporting facilities, Murdoch University campus and Rockingham City Shopping Centre are also close by.

Access Housing Chief Executive Officer Garry Ellender said Haven’s award win showcased the company’s continued ability to deliver industry recognised affordable housing developments.

“Being able to win an award as illustrious as this, and ahead of impressive competition from across Australia, is a fantastic achievement not just for Access Housing but also the Community Housing sector more broadly,” Mr Ellender said.

“One of the cornerstones of our property development activities is ensuring value for money throughout each project’s lifetime, not just during construction, to ensure ongoing affordability for tenants, owner-occupiers and investors.

“The significance of this award win cannot be overstated, as it exemplifies Access Housing’s and the Community Housing sector’s capacity to deliver new housing choices for low-moderate income earners while also showing that affordability is still achievable when delivering high quality, well-designed residential developments.”

Haven’s win at the Property Council of Australia’s national awards continues Access Housing’s recent run of success in some of the most respected and valued development industry awards programs. September 2017 saw the company join with project partner BGC Development to win the prestigious 2017 Urban Development Institute of Australia (WA) Award for Excellence in the ‘Affordable Development’ category for our Jervis Rise, Baldivis development. A few weeks after Jervis Rise’s success, Access Housing’s environmentally sustainable affordable housing development at White Gum Valley won the 2017 Australasian Housing Institute (WA) Awards for Professional Excellence in Housing ‘Leading Housing Development Project’ award.

  • article courtesy of Access Housing

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Indigenous housing Innovation Member news News Western Australia

A remote West Australian Aboriginal community has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds needed to turn new and refurbished social housing into homes by providing the funds to purchase essential household items, from beds to kettles.

Tjuntjuntjara is located in the Great Victoria Desert, about 690km north-east of Kalgoorlie. Access to the community is difficult due to the surrounding terrain, with food supplies flown in on a fortnightly basis.

The 2011 census reported the community’s population as 162, but Tjuntjuntjara has grown over the last few years and now acts as a service centre for surrounding outstations.

In December 2017, the West Australian Government announced a major capital works and essential services package to upgrade existing social housing and to improve essential services in the community. Work on the properties is nearly complete and, in June, the residents will receive access to 10 new multigenerational houses and 12 upgraded existing houses.

Not-for-profit community housing organisation Community Housing Ltd manages the properties on behalf of the Department of Housing.

Whilst the construction works have been funded by the National Partnership in Remote Housing, the community and residents themselves are completely responsible for furnishing their homes. This presents a big challenge for most community members who are on low incomes. The high cost of freight to the community makes purchasing essential household items unaffordable for low income residents.

The Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (PTAC), which manages the Tjuntjuntjara community on behalf of the Spinifex traditional owners, has launched a ‘GoFundMe’ appeal on behalf of the community to solicit donations in cash and kind. CHL is supporting the appeal as part of its broader community engagement program.

‘CHL is committed to community development with dedicated staff who focus on facilitating community development projects which have been generated and are led by community,’ says CHL’s Community Development Project Manager, Rachel Lattimore.

‘CHL’s approach is based on identifying the strengths, knowledge, and capability within communities and developing innovative ideas to create sustainable, resilient, communities. CHL has adopted an Aboriginal Community Strategy, and a Community Development Framework to ensure best practice.’

PTAC can accept gifts or donations on behalf of donors that are tax deductible and directly benefit the community. They are looking for the public’s assistance to raise money or donate physical items such as: storage and transport of items to Tjuntjuntjara, fridges, bedframes, dining furniture, kettles and washing machines.

For details, and to support the campaign, see GoFundMe, or PTAC’s website.

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CHL and Horizon join forces for housing affordability

Member news News NSW Qld

Australian not-for-profit housing provider Community Housing Limited (CHL) has announced its integration of Queensland’s largest housing provider, Horizon Housing,  into the CHL Group of  Companies. The move will provide CHL with a strong advantage in Queensland to deliver more affordable housing  in the State. Over the next year this integration will drive growth for the two organisations so that more Australians who are facing housing crisis are able to secure long‐term affordable housing. The integration will boost CHL’s current portfolio to over 11,000 properties by November 2018, making it  the largest community housing provider in the country. The combined group will manage  community and affordable housing properties across the six states with nearly 300 staff delivering  services to support those most disadvantaged. The new arrangement will consolidate expertise and strengthen the reach and services offered by  both community housing providers. It will allow both the organisations to utilise their  complementary strengths and drive efficiencies, reducing costs and releasing revenue to access  more finance to build more homes and improve the quality of services to customers. Horizon, Queensland’s largest housing provider with operations in 15 in local government areas  across Queensland and parts of New South Wales, provides both community housing programs and  affordable housing projects and has over 2,400 properties in its portfolio, all of which will now  benefit from the expansion of services and increased resources available via CHL. ‘This new arrangement further strengthens the position of both organisations, providing each with  mutually beneficial outcomes aligned to our shared vision of providing the communities we serve  with affordable housing solutions that are available and accessible by those in need,’ says CHL Group’s  Managing Director, Steve Bevington. ‘Our collaboration is an exciting development for the sector and redefines the landscape, we look  forward to drawing on this strengthened position to deliver future affordable housing solutions as  the housing crisis across the country escalates.’ CHL has long been considered a sector leader, supporting and growing the industry  both locally and internationally, providing end-to-end affordable housing developments and long -term housing and tenancy management operations in Australia. ‘Horizon’s integration within the CHL Group is another step in that direction’, adds Steve. CEO of Horizon Housing, Jason Cubit, said the organisation was excited to be part of the CHL group of  companies. ‘The integration of Horizon Housing and CHL is an exciting new chapter, as it allows us to pool the  expertise and resources critical to improving the lives of the most vulnerable members of the  community,’ Mr Cubit says. ‘Our initiatives don’t only help families get by in the short‐term, but empower them to break  the  cycle of financial stress, aiding a transition into the private rental or property market.’…

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