Five new energy efficient and accessible public homes have been completed in Canberra’s Inner North, replacing two older and outdated public housing dwellings, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry announced.

The two-bedroom homes have been developed as part of the ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program 2019-2027, under which more than 555 homes have been built, and a further 496 are in the construction pipeline.

The program aimed to construct 1,200 new homes between 2019 and 2024, renewing 1,000 homes and increasing the public housing portfolio by at least 200.

Fifteen other new public housing homes were delivered in April, Ms Berry said. Together, these 20 new homes have been built on the site of six older public housing properties. 

“The Growing and Renewing Public Housing program demonstrates the ACT Government’s commitment to providing more high-quality public housing right across our city,” Ms Berry said. 

“The public housing renewal program ensures that more Canberrans are getting into the homes that are right for them.

“The homes we’re unveiling today are complete with Class C adaptable features, which ensure they’re able to meet a variety of mobility and accessibility needs. These features will support tenants to age in place, meaning our residents can call these houses home well into the future.

“These units have also been built to a 6.5-star energy efficiency rating to keep our residents comfortable and to keep energy bills down.

“Replacing older, inefficient properties on large blocks of land also contributes to the Government’s infill goals, which aim to meet the demands of a growing city in a sustainable and liveable way. Importantly, it helps deliver public housing close to shops, schools and services so tenants can have a good quality of life.”