Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts today announced the first stage of an extensive State Government project to purchase, transport and install quality factory-built houses in regional Western Australia.
Mrs Roberts said three companies had been selected to provide quality transportable homes home over a four-year program valued in excess of $70million per year.
Perth-based builders Quality Builders and T&R Homes had been awarded the building tenders, along with Murray River North in Pinjarra.
"Modern factory-built houses bring advantages in both time and cost without skimping on the conveniences of a traditionally built home," the Minister said.
"These dwellings can be constructed in the supplier's yard in as little as 16 weeks, then transported to site and installed in about six weeks."
Mrs Roberts said the quality transportable homes could be delivered and constructed in 22 weeks, compared with traditional construction which could take up to a year.
"For the northern part of the State, the flexibility of being able to construct dwellings in the metropolitan area during the wet season; and transporting them to site at the appropriate time will cut delays," she said.
"The factory-built homes will cost up to 20 per cent less where construction costs are high, such as Karratha, Derby, Kalgoorlie and Merredin."
The Minister said that up to 200 dwellings per year would be delivered under the agreement with the selected suppliers.
"There is no doubt there is a huge demand for housing, particularly in the State's remote areas, that is why the State Government is thinking 'outside the square' for affective solutions," she said.
"The Carpenter Government is continually looking at the full range of housing solutions and factory built housing is just one part of a greater approach to the housing shortage."
The first stage of the factory-built houses project will see up to 12 public rental houses constructed in the Kimberley (including Kununurra, Derby, Halls Creek, Wyndham, and Yungngora) and 12 public rental houses in the Pilbara (including Tom Price, Newman and Roebourne).
This project will also deliver housing for Government employees, with nine houses to be delivered in the Kimberley and 27 houses in the Pilbara in the early stage of the program.
Minister's office - 9213 6600
