The Prime Minister today announced that Townsville has received approval for 257 new homes worth nearly $69 million under the Stage Two of the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan Social Housing Initiative.
This brings the total of new social housing in the Townsville region to 304 homes worth $83 million following the announcement of Stage One projects earlier this year.
The Prime Minister made the announcement with Federal Member for Dawson James Bidgood and Senator for Queensland Jan McLucas at the site of a $2.9 million project in West End that will deliver eight two-bedroom units.
The building work - funded under Stage One - is providing work for 30 roofers, electricians, carpenters and renderers, including 11 apprentices, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
Across the country, the Government estimates that the social housing component of the stimulus plan is supporting more than 15,000 jobs.
This new investment is one part of the Rudd Government's program to increase the stock of affordable homes in Australia by 80,000 by mid-2012.
For Queensland, the Social Housing Initiative involves 4,038 new properties at a cost of $1.085 billion.
The stimulus plan also sees an $80.1 million investment in maintenance and repair work for 9,458 homes in Queensland. Renovation and repainting jobs increase the quality of the housing stock and lengthen its life.
Locations, numbers of dwellings and funding under the social housing initiative are current and are subject to variations during the tender process.
Construction has also begun on all 118 new Defence houses funded under the Stimulus Plan, supporting 82 direct and 205 indirect local jobs. 56 properties are complete.