Page 3803 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 November 2022
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One thing I am certain of—given there has already been a commitment by a major super fund of over $200 million, ahead of tomorrow’s forum that I will attending, representing the states and territories with federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers—is that the ball is rolling here, and we are going to see a very significant level of investment in this new type of housing.
Housing ACT—maintenance
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Minister, you are well aware of the number of complaints both that Housing ACT receive and that the Canberra Liberals receive which we refer to your office. The constant stream of maintenance pleas for help, including for mould, vermin infestations, maggots, ceilings collapsing, leaking bathrooms et cetera is mind boggling. Minister, why do maintenance complaints plague Housing ACT? Has funding been shifted to other projects?
MS BERRY: No. I would refer the member to my previous answers. There has been $140 million over two years invested into maintenance programs in our public housing.
MR PARTON: Minister, has that funding that you have referred to actually gone towards repairing the immediate needs of Housing ACT tenants or has it primarily gone to growth and renewal upgrades?
MS BERRY: No; it has gone directly to maintenance in our public housing properties. I have explained in detail where that public housing funding goes, and the kind of maintenance that occurs in our public housing properties includes kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, carpet repairs, painting, and gutter repairs, and is funded through that $140 million.
MR CAIN: Minister, to what degree was funding the tram the real reason for the so-called growth and renewal program?
MS BERRY: I refer Mr Cain to the answers that the Chief Minister provided on that public housing growth and renewal program.
Municipal services—streetlighting
MR BRADDOCK: My question is to the minister for city services. Minister, given the importance of adequate lighting, particularly on issues like women’s safety and active travel, does the ACT government have a strategic approach to streetlighting infill? How does this prioritise issues such as lighting for active travel corridors or women’s safety?
MR STEEL: We have been consulting with the community over recent years, particularly through the better suburbs program, in developing a community statement about the importance of a range of different city services, including streetlights. We heard that streetlights are important to maintaining public and traffic safety. We have also heard that through resident consultation that we have been doing on our draft
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