Member for Geraldton, Kirrilee Warr MLA, has urged the housing minister to provide the relevant support and funding to implement the findings of the Auditor General’s latest report, saying the results could assist with Geraldton’s social housing concerns.
The report into the Management of Housing Maintenance Information gave a number of state-wide recommendations, including being proactive with maintenance and improved coordination of maintenance work.
Ms Warr said action needs to be taken to solve a growing issue.
“Every week, concerned residents visit my office and continue to ask the questions of when the tired, run-down, boarded-up homes in Geraldton will be fixed,” she said.
“We are in a housing crisis, with waitlists continuing to escalate.
“Real solutions in the short term need to be considered, to ensure real results sooner rather than later.”
Recent statistics showed there were more than 830 people on the public housing waitlist earlier this year, with more than 240 of those on the priority list.
Meanwhile, the vacant housing stock for social housing was more than 150 at the end of April this year.
Ms Warr called for urgent action, to ensure the waitlist in Geraldton could be reduced.
“This report has highlighted ways the Department of Housing and Works has been inefficient in this area over the past six years, and the difference it could have made to our community is immense,” she said.
“The State Government must take these recommendations seriously to help manage Geraldton’s social housing waitlist.”
Ms Warr spoke about the issue in Parliament earlier this year, urging for more to be done in the sector.
She has committed to continue to engage with local stakeholders and to discuss with representatives across a number of different sectors.
“This issue is complex and will require collaboration on several different levels to solve,” she said.
“I will continue to advocate for this and to listen, to ensure we can find solutions that will make a difference.”