QUEENSLAND’S Palaszczuk government is investing $8.5 million to deliver 23 new social homes in Earlville, with the transformed former Quigley St Night Shelter in Parramatta Park also set to be reopened.
Delivered in partnership with Access Community Housing Company, the new homes are being delivered on the site of an old building on the site.
The building, which contained 14 dwellings owned by Access Community Housing, is now being demolished to make way for the new fit-for-purpose accommodation.
“Access Community Housing Company is delighted to be partnering with the Queensland Government to deliver this project at a time of such critical need in the Cairns community,” said Liz Brown, CEO at Access Community Housing Company.
“The development will deliver one and two bedroom apartments suitable for a range of individuals including older people and those living with a disability, including 4 to a platinum standard. It is such a wonderful location, close to shops, services and clinics and will make a significant difference in the lives of those people.”
Ahead of the demolition, Access Community Housing Company supported the previous tenants to relocate to suitable alternative accommodation.
“The old homes on this site really needed a refresh so that they could better meet the needs of tenants now and into the future,” said Meaghan Scanlon, housing minister.
“It also gave us the chance to increase the number of units from 14 to 23 so that even more Queenslanders will be able to make their home here.”
Construction on the new social homes is set to begin in the new year.
Meanwhile, the former Quigley St Night Shelter in Parramatta Park will soon be reopened, with upgrade works “substantially complete”.
The facility will provide support accommodation for six households who have been experiencing or were at risk of homelessness.
24/7 onsite supports will be provided by Anglicare North Queensland, with supports tailored to the needs of each individual person.
The $800,000 refurbishment works will be largely completed by QBuild by the end of November, with some minor works to be completed post occupancy.
The government also recently announced a former hotel in Brisbane will be transformed into supported accommodation for those at risk of homelessness.
While earlier in 2023, the Queensland government purchased a 23-room hotel, with a motor inn in Hamilton also leased for youth accommodation and an apartment complex in Gladstone transformed into public housing.
