SA Housing Trust welcomes its new Chief Executive
We welcome our newly appointed Chief Executive, Julie-Anne Burgess, commencing on the 28April.
Julie-Anne brings extensive leadership experience across the South Australian public sector, having held executive roles in the Department for Trade and Investment, Department of Treasury and Finance, Courts Administration Authority, and SA Health.
She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.
She has a strong track record of leading complex policy and operational reforms, driving collaboration across government, and delivering strategic outcomes that benefit communities.
Harbrow Grove - A model for affordable housing success
The Trust’s Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) has successfully completed its flagship project, Harbrow Grove at Seacombe Gardens. Twenty-nine out of the 31 new homes are now occupied by HomeSeeker SA eligible purchasers. This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to improving access to high-quality, affordable housing in South Australia.
Harbrow Grove offers a selection of modern, two-storey homes featuring 2-3 bedrooms, all built through Bradford Projects by Scott Salisbury. These affordable homes were sold at fixed prices between $485,000 and $540,000, which is below the current median property price for Seacombe Gardens, at $770,000. These 31 homes replaced 18 walk-up flat units constructed by the Trust during the 1970s.
This development highlights the positive impact of the Affordable Housing Initiative in creating opportunities for homeownership. Other developments have recently sold in Woodville, Edwardstown, Seaton, Hendon, and Prospect, with more to follow.
We advertise all home purchase opportunities exclusively to eligible applicants through the HomeSeeker website. All homes are priced under $660,000.
We are getting tougher on anti-social behaviour
We are making changes to the way we manage anti-social behaviour. The new approach will remove verbal warnings to tenants and be replaced by written, formal warnings in the first instance.
A second substantiated complaint within a reasonable timeframe will be referred to a dispute resolution conference. A third substantiated complaint would result in an application to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) for eviction. Instances of serious or illegal behaviour will continue to be immediately referred to SACAT. We will increase the use of conciliation conferences, encouraging tenants to participate in the resolution of neighbourhood disputes and engage in behaviour plans earlier.
We will direct tenants who are removed from SA Housing Trust properties towards homelessness services, and they will not be able to apply for another SA Housing Trust property for a minimum of 12 months. We will introduce these changes over the next few months, providing greater clarity on expectations of tenant behaviour.
Public Housing builds reach major milestone
The SA Housing Trust achieved a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering more public housing for South Australians. The Trust has now commenced construction on the final site in Seaton for three, two-bedroom, single storey homes, under the Public Housing Improvement Program (PHIP) 437.
We are constructing 282 homes across the state as part of the PHIP, including fifty apartments on Tucker St within Adelaide’s CBD. We have already completed 158 homes, with new tenants on the Housing Register moving in or current tenants who relocated from homes during redevelopment. Across the program, a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes are built across dozens of metropolitan suburbs and in seven regional locations under the $232.7 million housing commitment, through the PHIP and other SA Housing Trust building programs.
In addition to 437 new homes, the Public Housing Improvement Program also includes major works on 350 vacant homes and improvements to 3000 tenanted homes. PHIP is just one of several of our programs and initiatives to deliver more housing for South Australians.
5000 homes for South Australians:
Watch Mark's interview on Channel 9
Channel 9 recently aired an interview with SA Housing Trust Executive Director Mark Hayward as part of its Building Ideas show at the Trust's Morphettville development.
He spoke on a range of topics, including:
- Progress - we are ahead of target in delivering 2000 homes through the Trust's Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) and Public Housing builds
- Investment in maintenance and upgrade programs
- Developing traditional homes and shift in focus in medium-density homes such as apartments and town houses.
- Ambitious target of 5000 homes for South Australians
You can watch the episode on Channel 9's website once you sign up for free. Timestamp: 9.33 - 13.29 minutes.
Major upgrade completion at Glengowrie
We recently completed a major upgrade to a block of public housing flats in Glengowrie.
We completely gutted and rebuilt the western suburbs property into modern, comfortable units, ready for 12 families to move in. The renovations included replacing the roof, walls, and utilities as well as adding air conditioning, energy efficient windows, and other amenities.
Works are still ongoing to upgrade the rest of the site.
