News and Media
27 May 2010
Defence Housing project at Largs North referred to Public Works Committee
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly, today referred a Defence housing project at Largs North to the Public Works Committee.
Dr Kelly referred the project on behalf of the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin.
Dr Kelly said, "Subject to approval by the Public Works Committee, the construction of the 35 homes at Largs North will be through a select tender process to pre-qualified builders and will meet Department of Defence and community standards".
"The proposed development could accommodate 185 dwellings, with 112 standard and 11 medium density lots, most of which will be sold to the public," he said.
Mr Griffin said, "This construction project by Defence Housing Australia, to be known as Bayriver, promises to deliver an excellent lifestyle for Australian Defence Force personnel and their families."
"Bayriver is located in the Port Adelaide area, only 25km from RAAF Edinburgh, 18km from the city centre, minutes away from the beach and close to the Australian Submarine Corporation facilities at Osborne where the Air Warfare Destroyer Project is based. It is also well serviced by social infrastructure.
"Bayriver is part of a major effort to construct housing for families moving to Adelaide in connection with the relocation of the Seventh Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) from Darwin, starting in 2011.
"There are currently more than 700 Defence members with dependents who reside in the region, but it is anticipated that this number will grow closer to 1,300 by 2014," Mr Griffin said.
The primary function of Defence Housing Australia is to supply housing and related services to Defence members and their families in line with Department of Defence operational requirements.
By the end of the current financial year Defence Housing Australia will manage some 17,900 properties across Australia worth around $8.5 billion.
Media contacts:
Elyse Gatt (Dr Mike Kelly): 02 6277 4840 or 0437 502 246
Sasha Nimmo (Alan Griffin): 0437 863 109
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664