Funding approved for affordable housing in mining town
The Western Australian state government has approved $6.6 million of funding to address a shortage of affordable housing for workers in Newman.
Located in the resource-rich Pilbara region, Newman was featured in Smart Property Investment’s Fast 50 report two years in a row.
The town is tipped for potential, thanks to significant development from Rio Tinto and steady double figure capital growth for the past seven years.
However, with a critical shortage of affordable rental accommodation for workers in the area, the state government has approved funding for 10 dwellings that will hold up to 30 service workers at the East Newman residential estate.
Housing minister Terry Redman said the department had received strong interest, with 22 registrations from local businesses received.
Meanwhile, regional development minister Brendon Grylls said the initiative was important to attract and retain workers who played a key role in delivering essential community services.
“This initiative will bring rent relief to a number of people who might otherwise have to relocate due to the shortage and cost of rentals in Newman,” Mr Grylls said.
Mr Grylls said the government was working to identify further sites to be developed as service worker housing in the Newman area.