Media Release

4 February 2009

Defence Housing receives $252 million to build additional homes

The Board of Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has welcomed the Australian Government's recent announcement of the Nation Building and Jobs Package which includes the construction of 802 new houses for Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families.

DHA will receive additional funding of $251.6 million to build the new homes in metropolitan and regional centres over the next 2 years. The 802 houses will be additional to the 1500 already in the DHA housing program for the next 3 years.

Mr Derek Volker, Chairman of the DHA Board, said "the additional funding will enable us to assist in meeting the operational objectives of the ADF."

"This investment will have a positive effect on the local construction industry in many different areas of Australia. There will be increased employment opportunities and flow-on effects to other industries," Mr Volker said.

New homes for ADF members and their families will be constructed in Defence areas including: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Victoria, Hobart, Townsville, Cairns, Hunter Valley, Ipswich, Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Wodonga, Nowra and Toowoomba.

The new constructions will begin in April 2009 and run through to March 2011.

The primary function of DHA is to supply housing and related services to ADF members and their families in line with Defence operational requirements. DHA currently manages 17,000 properties across Australia worth about $7 billion.

For more information:
Natalie Cooper
Defence Housing Australia
02 6217 8524
0421 040 098