Local builders are being called on to tender for the construction of four new houses in Port Augusta, being built by the state government for teachers, healthcare workers and police.
Renewal SA’s Office for Regional Housing is managing the development as part of a pilot program for its Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme, which will see more than 30 new homes built for essential workers across regional South Australian towns.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said the state government is pushing ahead to get the homes built and ready for key workers to move in to as quickly as possible.
“Since announcing the establishment of the Office for Regional Housing in February, we have locally tailored, strategic housing projects underway all around the state,” Minister Champion said.
“Our regional centres need appropriate housing for essential workers so that they can attract and retain a strong workforce to support their local community, and we are making this happen.
“These projects are being driven by partnerships between the state government, regional councils and local industry.”
Office for Regional Housing Director Matthew Hunt said a recent Registration of Interest process has been valuable in understanding the local builder market landscape.
“Those builders who submitted ROIs recently will be contacted about this opportunity – and others into the future – but the current tender remains open to anyone,” Mr Hunt said.
“In Port Augusta, we purchased land in September, and we are now looking for builders who can obtain building rules consent quickly and be onsite early 2024 to construct the four houses to our nominated design specifications.”
“We have tried to streamline this procurement process with simplified documentation so we can forge ahead to delivering these houses quickly.”
Renewal SA also currently has building tenders open in Renmark and Mount Gambier, and further opportunities will be released in the coming weeks for upcoming projects on the Copper Coast.
“Additionally, we are about to open an online portal where builders in regional areas all around the state, as well as manufacturers of modular housing solutions, can register their interest in working with us on any projects into the future,” Mr Hunt said.
Once constructed, the properties will be head-leased to Government Employee Housing (GEH) which will coordinate tenancy for key service and agency workers.
Builders are invited to tender through www.tenders.sa.gov.au until 14 November 2023.