The Albanese Government is getting on with the job of building homes for Australia, with successful recipients announced under Stream 1 of the $1.5 billion Housing Support Program.

A total of 80 projects across Australia will receive funding, including 73 local government projects and seven under the states and territories.

This funding will support master planning and development projects to accelerate housing supply and ensure residential growth in local communities is accessible, affordable and sustainable.

This will help unlock the construction of new homes across Australia.

Some of the successful projects receiving funding include:

• $1.5 million for Blacktown City Council for housing capacity studies and planning strategies around 9 train station precincts, with the potential to deliver 50,000 dwellings
• $1.2 million for the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning for a Planning Cadet Program to boost planning capability within regional councils
• $160,000 for Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council for a Future Housing Supply Strategy expected to enable 66 well-located homes in remote Queensland
• $355,000 for the South Australian Department for Trade and Investment to establish a Bachelor in Urban and Regional Planning at Flinders University, to commence in 2025
• $150,000 for Bundaberg Regional Council to undertake precinct planning for 1,300 dwellings (including medium-density, affordable housing) around the Bundaberg Hospital, primarily for hospital workers

 The Housing Support Program is one of a range of measures designed to help achieve the ambitious national target of building 1.2 million new, well-located homes over the next 5 years.

It also forms part of the $32 billion in new housing initiatives we are delivering through our Homes for Australia plan.

States, territory and local governments are encouraged to apply for Stream 2 of the Program which also opens today (9am AEST 5 July 2024).

This $450 million stream will provide funding for enabling infrastructure that supports housing, such as roads and utility connections, and community amenities like parks, footpaths and public spaces.

Applications for Stream 2 of the Housing Support Program will be open until 5.00pm AEST 16 August 2024.

For more information on the Program, including a full list of successful Stream 1 projects, visit Housing Support Program.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Housing Support Program is an important part of our Government’s $32 billion Homes for Australia plan which is building more homes across Australia.

“A place to call home is not a luxury or a nice-to-have, but a fundamental need, and our Homes for Australia plan is making this a reality for more Australians.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The Albanese Government’s Housing Support Program is helping to turbocharge infrastructure planning so we can deliver more homes, more quickly, for more Australians.

“It’s a critical part of our plan to work with states and territories to help them meet the ambitious national target to build 1.2 million well-located new homes.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing Julie Collins:

“I urge all councils and state and territory governments to submit their projects for the second stream of the Housing Support Program so we can work together to get more homes on the ground, faster.

“Our Homes for Australia plan is working across the board – more help for renters, more help for homebuyers and more help for Australians needing a safe place for the night.”