Construction Begins on Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme with 35 Homes in South Australia

Construction has begun on the inaugural sites for the Key Worker Regional Housing Scheme, with completion expected next year. The project encompasses the construction of 35 new residences across various locations in South Australia.

(Photo : Pexels/HONG SON)

Construction of the First Site of the Housing Scheme

Producing more than $30 billion in annual economic activity, the regions of South Australia are vital to the state's prosperity; however, a shortage of quality housing makes it difficult for them to attract and retain hardworking South Australians. Therefore, the Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme aims to secure acceptable housing in the nearby regions for significant government employees, such as police officers, teachers, and medical professionals.

As mentioned, to initiate these developments, the Office for Regional Housing has identified areas of critical need, coordinated with agencies to assess requirements, procured land, developed designs, and secured constructors and development approvals over the previous year. Moreover, due to the acute need for purpose-built accommodation for government workers, the program will construct 35 new regional dwellings throughout the following areas: Bordertown (5), Ceduna (6), the Copper Coast (9), Mount Gambier (6), Port Augusta (4), and Renmark (5).

Nick Champion, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and Peter Malinauskas, Premier of Port Augusta, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the initial 35 residences to be built under the Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme. In 2025, it is anticipated that the first houses will be finished being built.

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Housing Program for Government Employees

According to the Government Employee Housing (GEH) program, which is not a choice-based program, to get subsidized rent, you are required to accept the housing assigned to you. Opting out of the GEH program is what you are doing if you choose to decline the property provided to you.

GEH provides unfurnished housing of different proportions. Accordingly, as far as the APY Lands are concerned, GEH solely offers furnished apartments. There are a variety of housing options available, the majority of which are older houses, along with some houses that have been upgraded and some modern contemporary houses. You must supply as much pertinent information as possible to assist GEH in giving out suitable homes.

Furthermore, applicants are assigned housing based on their level of need, which is determined by the composition of their families and is thoroughly outlined in the policy that governs housing allocation. Although GEH makes every effort to ensure that its employees' specific needs are considered, it is impossible to guarantee that all of their requirements will be satisfied because there is only a limited number of housing stock available.

On the other hand, while the program will make every effort to assign housing near your place of employment, housing within 40 kilometers of your location will be considered if no owned stock is available within the municipality. If the local housing supply is insufficient to fulfill the demand from applicants, then shared housing may become essential.

Thus, an applicant's employment agency is responsible for determining whether or not they are eligible for housing assistance. To obtain approval for eligibility for each application, GEH contacts the employing agency. With the timing of this approval and housing availability, the allocation of suitable housing depends on the other.

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