Home demand low in Busselton

Demand for public housing in the City of Busselton appears to be on the decline, bucking a Statewide trend of a 40 per cent increase in applications since 2008.

Shadow Housing Minister Peter Tinley last month criticised the Barnett Government’s failure to address the housing affordability crisis, and a $105 million decrease in the housing budget.

“Given the huge number of Western Australians who can’t afford skyrocketing rent costs or to own their own home, it would make sense to invest more, not less funding in the housing budget,” he said.

New analysis from the Council of Australian Government Reform Council showed housing affordability had failed to improve in 2010- 11.

Figures show around 60 per cent of people on the lowest income paid more than 30 per cent of their income on rent. While the report revealed WA’s rental affordability was better than the national average, homes to purchase were among the least affordable countrywide.

However, Department of Housing figures suggest demand for public housing accommodation in the region is dropping, with a 13.1 per cent decrease in Busselton applications last financial year.

The figures also show the average wait time for public housing has decreased 13.2 per cent to 159 weeks, while the number of applicants housed increased by 18 per cent.

Housing Department service delivery general manger Steve Parry said 64 public housing properties were completed in Busselton in the past two financial years.

While there were no new constructions this year, the department purchased five completed properties.

Details of next year’s construction program is still being finalised.

AccordWest, which provides housing support services in Busselton, has experienced a steady number of people seeking help with finding housing in the region.

Chief executive Neil Hamilton said it was predominantly young people looking for their first rental.

“We work with a lot of young people and how they might realistically look at securing a property, such as sharing, as it’s unlikely they can afford a rental in their own right,” he said.

Mr Hamilton said the influx of fly-in, fly-out workers and the peak summer tourism period often meant vacancy rates were quite low.

He said AccordWest only had two units in the Busselton area, and would like to look at securing more properties.