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Key City Worker Housing Project
The City of Perth’s Key City Worker Development will provide people on low to moderate incomes who work in the city with affordable rental accommodation less than two kilometres from the heart of the city. This housing will give key city workers the opportunity to experience affordable living in the inner city by reducing rent expenses and living costs through the innovative use of environmentally efficient design. It will also provide an important step for city workers to transition from rental housing into home ownership.
The project consists of 48 apartments in a three storey “walk up” development. Twenty-six of the apartments are two-bedroom units; the remaining 22 are one-bedroom units.
The project involves the redevelopment of the Goderich Street Public Car Park. The housing development will be built on the front of the site, facing Goderich Street. A secure, covered, multi-level 177-bay public long-stay car park will be completed behind the housing complex, to replace the existing public car park on the site.
Construction will commence in October 2011 and finish in early 2013.
LOCATION
Where is the Key City Workers Development?
The development is at 111-133 Goderich Street, East Perth, which is part of an existing residential area. It is within 150m of local shops on Hay Street, and a short cycle or free bus ride to the CBD.
OBJECTIVES
The City of Perth’s vision is to be a vibrant, cosmopolitan community, with a diverse residential population. One of the keys to this is having housing that is affordable and available to a range of people, with different income levels.
In recent years, inner city housing has become out of reach for many workers within important industries such as hospitality, retail, cleaning and community services.
The City of Perth wants to ensure that these workers have an opportunity to settle in the city so that they can live close to their work and become part of the inner city community. Living close to work not only saves residents the unnecessary expense of buying and maintaining a motor vehicle, but also brings wider environmental benefits by helping to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
By making inner-city living for key city workers more attractive, the project will also help city-based employers to attract and retain staff, thereby helping efforts to address the skills shortage.
The key objectives of this project are to:
- Increase affordable rental housing in the city of Perth.
- Address a gap in the city of Perth housing market that is not currently met by other housing providers.
- Establish partnerships between the City of Perth and other key stakeholders that will enable the development of future affordable housing projects.
- Build knowledge to guide future affordable housing projects within the city of Perth.
- Establish the City of Perth as a leader in Local Government for proactively addressing affordable housing in WA.
CAR PARK INFORMATION
The Goderich Street Car Park will be closed to allow redevelopment of the site. The City is developing a 177-bay multi-level car park at the rear of the housing development to maintain public car parking on the site and support workers and surrounding businesses.
For more details about City of Perth Parking, including alternative parking options near the Goderich Street site, please see the News section on the City of Perth Parking website.
DESIGN
Environmental
The housing has been specifically designed to be energy efficient and therefore deliver affordable living as well as environmental benefits.
The City is a member of the Green Building Council of Australia and has registered the project for certification as a “Green Star” development. To gain certification, the housing needs to meet a range of environmental criteria for the design, construction and operation of the building.
Features include:
- Wall & ceiling insulation.
- Energy efficient lights & fittings.
- Water saving taps, showers and toilets.
- Solar hot water.
- Secure bicycle parking for each apartment.
The central city location means that residents will be able to walk, cycle and use public transport to get to work and access daily needs like groceries without the need for a car. A reduced number of parking bays (24 bays for 48 units) have been included to reflect this, while recognising that some residents will still use a car. The reduction in parking and car use not only contributes towards a reduction in carbon emissions, but will also save many residents the considerable cost of owning and running a car, making their inner city living experience more affordable.
Accessibility
The building is also designed to be accessible for residents and visitors who have a disability, reflecting the diversity of needs among city workers.
All Apartments
All apartments will include simple features to ensure that they are usable and accessible for people with a disability:
- Hobless Shower Recess.
- Reinforced walls around bathroom to provide safe installation of grabrails at a future date.
- 870mm doors to openings.
- Light switches at 1000mm above the floor level.
- General power outlets at least 300mm above the floor level.
- Door hardware will be installed 1000mm above the floor level.
- Lever or ‘D’ style door hardware on all doors.
- Lever tapware will be installed typically to all outlets.
Accessible "Adaptable” Apartments
Six of the ground floor apartments have been specifically designed so that people with disabilities can live in them. They will achieve “Class C” certification under the Adaptable Housing Standard (AS 4299-1995).
In addition to the accessibility features provided in all apartments, these units will include things such as adjustable benchtops, more spacious rooms to allow wheelchair circulation, and accessible ramp access.
At first appearance, the units will look no different to any other and people without disabilities will be able to live in the apartments without noticing the difference. However, if a person with a disability does move in, the apartments can be quickly and inexpensively adapted to suit their needs.
The Disability Services Commission has contributed $40,000 towards the design and fit out of the six “adaptable” apartments.
MANAGEMENT
The City of Perth has appointed Access Housing Australia Ltd to manage the apartments once they are complete. Access Housing is one of Western Australia’s leading affordable housing providers.
Access Housing will lease the housing from the City for a ten year period and will be responsible for all tenancy and property services during that time.
Visit Access Housing’s website here.
TENANT INFORMATION
Who is eligible to live in the apartments?
To be eligible, people must meet the City of Perth eligibility requirements, which include:
- having a job within the city of Perth.
- not exceeding cash asset limits.
- not being an owner or part owner of any other property.
- not earning more than the household income limits which are set by the Commonwealth Government as part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme and are adjusted each year.
What are the income limits?
The income limits are set by the Commonwealth Government as part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme. In July 2011, the income limits for singles and couples were as follows:
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Initial (Moving In) Income Limit
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Upper Income Limit (Before Having to Move Out)
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Singles
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$44,128
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$55,160
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Couples
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$61,006
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$76,258
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Different income limits apply for households with children. These can be found at the National Rental Affordability Scheme website.
Households must meet the “Initial Income Limit” when they move into the housing. They do not have to move out until they reach the “Upper Income Limit” which is 25% higher. The higher Upper Limit allows existing tenants to get a pay rise or promotion without having to move out of their home.
The income limits are adjusted each year by the Commonwealth according to a tenant income index.
Tenants must prove that they meet the income and eligibility criteria:
- when they put their name on the waiting list.
- when they move in to the housing.
- while they are living in the housing.
How long can tenants stay in the housing?
Eligible tenants will be able to remain in the housing for up to three years. This supports the “transitional” nature of the housing and ensures that a range of people will be able to enjoy the benefit of living in the development.
How much rent will residents pay?
Residents will pay 80% of the market rent for the property. This will be determined by an independent valuer at the time residents move in. Rent is set according to the market rate, not how much residents earn. By discounting the rent by 20% the housing will always be more affordable than similar housing in the area. It will give people a chance to work and live in the inner city when they wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
The efficient water and energy design will help to reduce water, power and gas bills.
Residents will also save money on transport, as they can walk, cycle or catch free public transport to their workplace in the city.
How Do I Register?
Construction of the housing will not finish until early 2013. Access Housing will manage rental applications and the waiting list.
Application forms for prospective tenants can be obtained from the Access Housing website.
SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
The Department of Housing has provided a $1.6 million grant towards construction of the housing. The Department's involvement in this project is in line with the State's new Affordable Housing Strategy to delivery more affordable housing opportunities for low to moderate income earners.
The Disability Services Commission has contributed $40,000 towards the design and fit-out of the six accessible apartments, which can be easily adapted for people with disabilities. See the design section for more information on the accessible apartments.
BUILDING
The builder for the project is Northerly Group Pty Ltd.
Northerly Group Pty Ltd is one of Perth’s leading construction companies and has extensive experience in multi-residential housing, affordable housing and Green Star projects.
Visit Northerly’s website here.