Rapid construction is currently underway across several regions in South Australia to provide new homes for frontline workers. The initiative, part of the Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme, aims to address the shortage of affordable and quality housing for essential workers in rural areas.
Nick Champion, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, commented on the construction, saying “It’s really encouraging to see such quick progress being made to build these key worker houses across the regions in SA.”
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“I’m looking forward to seeing the first of these new builds completed and ready to house essential government workers early next year.”
Key areas seeing development include the South East, Copper Coast, Port Augusta, and the Riverland, where construction will soon commence on five new homes.
Significant advancements have been made in various locations:
- In Port Augusta, the construction of four homes has reached the stage of external walls being built, with frames already complete.
- In Mount Gambier, two homes have frames completed and another two have had their slabs poured as part of a four-home development.
- Renmark has received planning approvals for five homes, and similar approvals have been obtained for four homes in Moonta Bay.
- New projects are set to start in Ceduna and a second in Mount Gambier, with plans to deliver eight additional residences across these areas.
Construction of six homes in Ceduna will start in July using an innovative modular building system provided by SipForm, in collaboration with RJ Scott Building, a local First Nations company. This method introduces a quicker construction process by using an integrated panel system designed and prepped in a factory with 3D modelling. This approach is expected to complete homes within seven months, a significantly shorter time frame compared to traditional methods.
Matt Hunt, Director of the Office for Regional Housing, said “Ceduna is a priority housing project and will happen very quickly.
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“It’s exciting not only to provide homes for key workers but to be able to boost employment locally during the builds.
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“Crucially, all these new regional homes will help foster a genuine sense of community, as they provide key workers with quality housing where they can establish roots in the town.”
In Mount Gambier, Empak Homes is managing projects at both the original and a newly commenced site. Their experience in residential building is expected to bring efficiency and quality to the constructions. Such local engagements are part of a broader strategy to boost economic activity and supply in the regions.
The state government has also been running the Regional Housing Initiatives Program, attracting strong interest with 30 proposals having been received prior to the deadline on May 3. Renewal SA is set to assess these submissions, focusing on those that are ready to begin within the next year.
