The Hon. Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Science and Personnel and Indigenous Health
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, today handed over the keys to a recently completed Defence house in the new Canberra suburb of Crace.
The handover is part of the first stage of a four-year multi-million dollar Defence Housing Australia (DHA) development of up to 300 Defence houses.
It comes after DHA won the right to develop in Crace as part of a joint venture with the ACT Government’s Land Development Agency. In total, 1,430 residential blocks will be released for sale as part of the development.
“This multi-million dollar Defence Housing Australia initiative will help ease pressure on Canberra’s rental market.
“To date 27 Defence houses have been completed in Crace with a further eight expected to be finished before Christmas. Next year stage two of the project will begin, with 37 houses built for Defence personnel and their families,” said Mr Snowdon.
Crace is a 10 minute drive from Canberra city and five minutes from the Gungahlin shopping precinct.
“These houses will provide Defence members moving to the ACT with high standard accommodation in a great location,” Mr Snowdon said.
“We expect the houses in this area to be quite popular as they are close to public transport, local shops, schools and other amenities.”
Federal Member for Fraser, Andrew Leigh, welcomed the announcement.
“Gungahlin is a wonderful place to live and I am pleased to see Defence families moving here.
“This Defence project in Crace has provided local jobs and helped local businesses and this ongoing development also helps ease the strain in Canberra’s rental market.
“I welcome these new defence families to Gungahlin and know they’ll find it a great place to live,” Dr Leigh said.
DHA manages an $8 billion portfolio at around 18,000 houses.
Media contact: Alice Plate (Minister Snowdon) 0400 045 999
Natalie Cooper (DHA) 0421 040 098
