CYCLONE SEROJA —
TEMPORARY HOUSING — CARAVANS
1189. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the ongoing housing
shortage in Northampton following cyclone Seroja.
(1) What is the
status of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services' plans to
purchase six caravans for emergency relief staff to be situated in Northampton?
(2) Has DFES
approached the Shire of Northampton to purchase the caravans and for the funds
to be refunded to the shire at a later date?
(3) When does the minister expect
the caravans to be utilised for accommodation?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services has worked with the Shire of
Northampton on options for temporary accommodation for reconstruction workers,
which includes the purchase and installation of caravans at Northampton.
Through the disaster recovery funding arrangements, the shire is eligible to
apply to have costs associated with the purchase of the caravans reimbursed.
(3) Local government is procuring and managing the
caravans. It is my understanding that this will be finalised in the new
year.