Tweed Shire Council (TSC) has welcomed $8 million in funding announced on Friday by the federal government to help provide affordable housing for Tweed Heads.
The funding will provide infrastructure for some 145 residential lots at the Homestead project on Fraser Drive at Tweed Heads South. Of these, a least 42 serviced residential lots will be provided to affordable housing provider, Horizons Housing Solutions Ltd, at no cost.
TSC will ensure the construction of at least 42 homes, a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and duplexes. Approximately half of them will be sold at a discount of 20 to 30 per cent off market price, with the remaining lots retained as affordable housing by an affordable housing provider and rented at no more than 80 per cent of market rent.
Tweed mayor Barry Longland said the aim of the federal government’s Building Better Regional Cities Program (BBRC) was to invest in local infrastructure projects that support an increase in the number of homes or dwellings for sale and rent that are affordable for working families on ordinary incomes.
‘This is a major affordable-housing project, which will provide significant benefit to the Tweed community,’ Cr Longland said.
‘It is a major injection of funding into an area that local government authorities find to be one of their most difficult challenges.
‘In the Tweed, we have average salaries below the state average and we’re aware there’s demand in our community. This funding is going to go a long way towards assisting the council towards addressing that need.
‘It is wonderful to see this innovative partnership between federal and local government,’ he said.
‘We thank the federal government through our local member Justine Elliot for their support in this initiative.
Infrastructure that can be funded under the BBRC Program includes water and sewer infrastructure and connecting roads and bridges, as well as community infrastructure such as parklands, open space, pedestrian and bike paths, community centres and recreation facilities.
TSC will enter into an agreement with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to ensure delivery of the program.
The homes are expected to be built by 30 June 2016.
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