Prime Minister Julia Gillard today visited Larrakeyah Barracks to see first-hand some of the housing investments the Australian Government has funded for Defence personnel in Darwin.
The Gillard Government has invested more than *$480 million in new projects and constructed *358 new homes since 2007 with plans for more than a thousand new residences for Australian Defence Personnel in Darwin.
These investments will provide first class housing for ADF members.
They will support the recruitment and retention of our ADF personnel and at the same time help relieve the tight local housing market here in Darwin.
The Prime Minister toured permanent live-in accommodation for single members at Larrakeyah Barracks which will soon be replaced with 230 new apartments onsite, with another 680 to be built at Robertson Barracks.
The tour with the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon also included a visited to a construction site at Larrakeyah Barracks where 97 new houses are underway in a separate $63.8 million project.
In total, these investments in Defence Housing in Darwin will provide more than 900 jobs for Territorians.
Defence contributes more than $800 million a year to the Gross State Product in the Northern Territory, and stimulates over an additional 4,500 non-Defence jobs in local business.
Business across the Top End benefit significantly from the Government’s housing plan in Darwin.
Summary of Government Defence Housing investment since 2007
| PROJECT FUNDING | DETAILS | LOCATION | STATUS |
| $74m | Construction of 185 houses as part of the Nation Building Economic Stimulus initiative | Lyons | Completed |
| *$82m | *173 Houses, through Defence Housing Australia | Lyons & Bellamack | Completed |
| To be tendered | 41 Houses to be constructed, through DHA | Bellamack & Johnston | To start in 2011/2012 |
| $63.8m | Announced the replacement of 97 new four bedroom homes and the upgrade 11 currently vacant houses at Larrakeyah Barracks in employing up to 400 subcontractors on the project, through DHA | Larrakeyah Barracks | Construction underway |
| $20m | Development of Muirhead Stage 1, on 166 lots on which DHA will build 50 new houses for ADF members, a further 25 lots (15 per cent) will be offered to the NT Government for affordable social housing, and the balance of the lots (91) will be sold to the general public in the open market. | Muirhead | Construction underway |
| $244m | Construction of 900 new high quality apartments to be built for single ADF members. This project is expected to create an additional 100 jobs in the local construction industry, through LEAP program | Larrakeyah and Robertson Barracks | To begin at end of 2011 |
| TOTAL: More than *$483m |
*358 houses have been constructed, with more than 1100 residences planned. | ||
Note: *Figures revised 2/12/2011
For further information on LEAP visit: www.defence.gov.au/id/sla/phase2.htm
DARWIN
30 JUNE 2011
PRESS OFFICE (02) 6277 7744
MINISTER SNOWDON’S OFFICE 0400 045 999
