• Miles Government’s fund supports Roseberry Community Services to purchase 85 homes for long-term housing
• Part of government’s Homes for Queenslanders plan to deliver one million more homes, including 53,500 more social homes

Eighty-five units in Gladstone will become social and affordable housing thanks to the Miles Government’s Housing Investment Fund and Homes for Queenslanders plan.

The government has partnered with local community housing provider Roseberry Community Services to fund the purchase of the Barney Beach Accommodation, which was previously used as workers accommodation.

This project – to now be named the Friend St Village - will create a vibrant community with Roseberry on-hand to supports tenants.

It will includes 20 social units and 65 affordable units with work to repurpose the cabins to be completed this month and tenants moving in shortly after.

It comes after the government last year purchased a former serviced apartment in Gladstone, turning it into 34 self-contained social homes managed in partnership with community housing provide Regional Housing Limited.

More broadly, the government’s Housing Investment Fund has also recently seen the purchase of a former hotel in inner-Brisbane as well as a 124-home former retirement village in Logan.

Quotes attributable to Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher: 

“This is another example of our government doing what matters for Gladstone and Queensland – with 85 homes locked in for our community.

“Roseberry Community Services is just another one of the great organisations we’re working in the community housing sector to deliver more homes for Queenslanders.”  

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“Our Homes for Queenslanders plan is pulling every lever possible, whether that’s buying former retirement villages, accommodation parks and hotels; building modular homes and supporting the Federal Government’s Help to Buy shared equity scheme.

“The LNP have made it clear they will not use the Fund to purchase homes, which means they don’t support projects like this partnership with Roseberry.

“Instead of supporting more homes through initiatives like this, the LNP are too busy blocking 8,000 Queenslanders from buying their own home by blocking Help to Buy legislation.”

Quotes attributable to Roseberry Queensland General Manager, Jo Paringatai:

“Roseberry is committed to working with the community of Gladstone to increase housing supply and provide supported and affordable accommodation to those who need it the most.

“With the repurposing of the existing premises in Barney Beach, now called the Friend St Village, we are increasing access to affordable homes and creating a place where individuals and families can lead safe and fulfilling lives in secured environments.”

Quotes attributable to Roseberry Chairperson, Erin Robertson:

“Our vision is to create a strong vibrant, compassionate community by expanding social and affordable housing options here in Gladstone.

“Our commitment is to improve housing choice and enable everyone to fully participate in social and economic life by providing safe and secure homes to those who need them most.”

Further information: 

Anyone who needs housing assistance can contact the Gladstone Housing Service Centre on 07 4899 2400 during business hours or call the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.

ENDS