Redfern and Waterloo gets $3,856,098 to upgrade 1404 homes

Mr Borger and Ms Plibersek, who made the announcement in Glebe with local MP Verity Firth said the investment was part of the Federal Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

Mr Borger said the breakdown of the investment for the area included:

·        Redfern and Waterloo - $3,856,098 to upgrade 1404 homes;

·        Glebe - $2,459,338 to upgrade 724 homes;

·        Sydney - $1,902,146 to upgrade 682 homes; and

·        Marrickville - $1,000,766 to upgrade 294 homes. 

“This significant investment will ensure electricians, plumbers, painters, carpet layers and others will have more work - it will keep people in jobs in these difficult times – it’s as simple as that,” Mr Borger said.

“In August last year, the NSW Government launched the single biggest residential maintenance contract in the Southern Hemisphere – helping us save millions of taxpayer dollars by adopting smarter ways of doing things.

“The new system encourages more proactive maintenance and improves the way tenants can report any repairs that are needed and because we have completed an audit of all the maintenance required in NSW we have been able to immediately kick start this new program.”

Ms Plibersek said the Commonwealth Government is investing $130 million in NSW on social housing maintenance.

“This significant investment will generate around 2000 jobs across the state and be used to upgrade around 31,000 homes by June 2010,” Ms Plibersek said.

“Over nine million is being invested in inner Sydney.”

Local Member for Balmain Verity Firth said the Federal Government’s investment complements existing NSW maintenance funding.

“The Premier brought forward a record $200 million late last year to further stimulate the economy.

“Housing NSW will also continue to spend around $140 million to further reduce the maintenance backlog,” Ms Firth said.

“This money will employ 50 social housing residents over a two year period, help maintenance contractors take on 250 apprentices, and improve the living conditions of social housing residents across the state.

“We are ramping up maintenance.

“This will see us upgrade an enormous number of homes over the next two years,” said Ms Firth.

Local Member for Heffron, Kristina Keneally, said the Commonwealth and NSW Government will invest three billion dollars over the next three years.

“This investment will deliver an extra 37,000 jobs and apprenticeships across NSW and build about 9000 additional social housing homes,” Ms Keneally said.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will not only better integrate social housing across the community it will help secure jobs and investment in NSW.”