From the Minister for Housing
A Bendigo man and his family today welcomed Housing Minister Richard Wynne into his newly renovated home, which had been improved with more than $30,000 in funding from the Commonwealth Nation Building and Jobs Plan being delivered in partnership with the Brumby Labor Government.
Mr Wynne visited the property in Eaglehawk, which he said was one of 40 in the region to share in more than $480,000 for the Loddon Mallee region to improve people's homes as well as provide much-needed stimulus to the regional economy for up to 20 local tradespeople from Kyneton to Mildura.
"The Brumby Labor Government is working together with the Commonwealth to create jobs and improve affordable housing in Bendigo and across the Loddon Mallee region through this economic stimulus," Mr Wynne said.
"This investment will have a direct impact on the quality of people's lives in Bendigo and from Kyneton to Mildura, whether they live in these homes or are employed to work on the improvements."
Mr Wynne made announced the local funding boost while visiting the Eaglehawk residents in their Loddon Mallee Housing Services home, which they had been allocated following a referral from the regional housing office after searching without success for affordable private rental accommodation.
"This house is a home to this family and is a safe and secure place for them to live," Mr Wynne said.
"In addition to the job security we are delivering with the Commonwealth, this is the human face of the investments the Brumby Labor Government is making in affordable housing right across Victoria."
Mr Wynne said upgrading Loddon Mallee's social housing was part of the plan to create jobs and beat the economic downturn as well as to improve the quality of affordable housing stocks in the area.
"The funding is part of the $1.58 billion package allocated to Victoria, of which $99.2 million will go on maintenance of social housing owned by the government and not-for-profit community agencies, such as Loddon Mallee Housing Services. "
Mr Wynne said maintenance work would include internal and external painting, plumbing as well as bathroom and kitchen upgrades.
"Investing in repairs and maintenance will prolong the life of the homes and improve life for the tenants. It's good to see these infrastructure projects which show governments and the community working in partnership," he said.
This will extend the life of housing by up to 15 years and enable approximately 5600 homes state-wide that would have been lost to public and community housing to be retained.