22 May 2024
DHA Adds Townsville As Priority Investment Location
Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has finally added Townsville as a priority location for housing investment ahead of the 500 servicemen, women and their families who are set to call our city home in 2025.
The move was a direct result of the advocacy of Federal Member for Herbert and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Phillip Thompson.
He said it was great to hear that Townsville was now on the list after several months of DHA sending the wrong signal to investors.
“It was pretty confusing to discover that Townsville hasn’t been on this list since the announcement of extra troops was made almost a year ago, so I raised it straight away,” Phillip Thompson said.
“Local and interstate ‘mum and dad’ property investors are looking to Townsville and DHA has been sending the wrong message that Townsville is not in need of new defence homes.
“It should not have taken them this long to do so, but it is encouraging to see that the situation has been rectified, so investors know the true need of housing here.
“This is another positive step after we were also successful in our push for DHA to seek a contractor to build 500 brand new homes as announced last week.”
Despite the move the Albanese Labor Government continues to claim that DHA are meeting the current housing requirements in Townsville.
Phillip Thompson said this was not the reality he is seeing on the ground.
“Servicemen, servicewomen and their families are continuing to be placed in temporary accommodation in Townsville, as there are just not enough houses for them,” he said.
“I’ll keep pressure on the Albanese Labor Government to support troops who move to Townsville.
“They’re moving across the country to an unknown city. They are wanting to know where they are going to live and what schools their kids are going to be attending.
“The Government needs to provide our troops with this reassurance and I will continue to ensure they do.”
ENDS