GOVERNMENT REGIONAL OFFICERS' HOUSING —
KALGOORLIE
667. Hon
WILSON TUCKER to the minister representing the Minister for Housing:
I thank the minister for his answer
to my question without notice 615 asked on 2 September, which revealed that
some Government Regional Officers' Housing properties in Kalgoorlie
have been empty for as long as 10 years. I note the comments attributed to the
minister in the Kalgoorlie Miner on 7 September that the Department of
Communities is assessing six long-term vacant GROH properties in Kalgoorlie for
refurbishment and transfer to public housing.
(1) When did the assessment of these
six properties begin and when will it be completed?
(2) Which agency were each of these
six properties allocated to?
(3) Why have
these six properties remained vacant for so long, given the shortage of housing
in Kalgoorlie?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) Upon appointment to the ministry, the Minister for
Housing requested that the Department of Communities conduct an
assessment of all vacant properties, including ageing Government Regional
Officers' Housing stock. The six Kalgoorlie properties were previously
allocated to the Department of Education, the Department
of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and PathWest. GROH properties
may be vacant for a number of reasons, including an attractive private
rental market in which public sector employees seek private housing rather than GROH; aged stock; being poorly located
in the district/town; and awaiting refurbishment or earmarked for
redevelopment.