Reduction of public housing in Withers on the cards

Currently 16 per cent of residences are public housing in Withers.

An effort by the Department of Housing plans to get that down to about 11 per cent – or a one in nine ratio between public and private housing.

The department will achieve this with a combination of sell downs, refurbishments and the construction of new dwellings for sale over several years.

But there are concerns that reducing public housing in Withers could put pressure on an already strained sector in the South West.

Some families in Bunbury have been waiting for a two to three bedroom house for over 11 years, according to a Homeswest public housing waiting list.

The list also shows some singles have been waiting for one bedroom housing since 2005.

South West MLC Adele Farina told the Bunbury Mail while Withers would benefit from “increased vitality and diversity” if there was less public housing, an assessment of the South West’s public housing situation needed to be released.

In parliament last month Ms Farina questioned when a South West Housing Report, scheduled for release in October last year, would be available to the public.

But acting department minister Ken Baston could not confirm a public release date.

“Affordable housing is in short supply in the South West and so it is essential the [report] is publicly released to enable informed debate and to inform future policy development,” Ms Farina said.

Withers Advisory Committee chairman and City of Bunbury councillor James Hayward said he could confirm the City was developing a local area plan for Withers, which would inform the department’s redevelopment strategy.

“A major step forward  for Withers will be the reduction of social housing numbers and the increase in private ownership,” Mr Hayward said.

“The plan will facilitate a way forward for the reduction of social housing throughout the suburb.”

The plan is expected to be finalised early next year.