The old Preston bus depot has been transformed into 52 new homes for vulnerable Victorians thanks to a $13 million Nation Building housing project.
Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne, Federal Member for Batman Martin Ferguson and State Member for Preston Robin Scott today officially opened the project, which is thanks to the Rudd Labor Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.
Mr Wynne said the Brumby Labor Government was working shoulder to shoulder with the Rudd Labor Government to deliver the biggest investment in public housing in Victoria in decades.
"This fantastic transformation of a brownfield site at Preston now houses 26 one-bedroom and 26 two-bedroom units, which translates into homes for more vulnerable Victorians," Mr Wynne said.
"The Victorian Government has received $1.167 billion through the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan and we are delighted to be able to see part of that contribution being invested in Preston.
"Through programs such as this, jobs are being created and retained. That's good news for our building industry and our local communities."
The project is a partnership with registered not-for-profit housing association Housing Choices Australia, which contributed 25 per cent of the project cost and will manage the project.
"Four of the units have been purchased by the Disability Housing Trust (DHT), providing a particularly high standard of amenity for people with limited mobility," Mr Wynne said.
Mr Ferguson said: "Under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, the Rudd Government is investing $50 million in 170 new homes in the wider Darebin area.
"This Preston project has sustained 60 jobs locally in the construction and associated industries and throughout the Darebin local government area, Nation Building will sustain about 225 jobs.
"We are committed to providing more affordable housing for residents in this area, which is experiencing particularly high demand for one and two-bedroom rental homes."
Mr Scott said on top of Nation Building commitments, another 170 homes would be built in the Darebin area by 2011 through the Brumby Labor Government's record $510 million investment in public and social housing.
He said the Preston Nation Building project and other planned housing developments in the area complemented the Brumby Labor Government's $6.6 million investment in the East Reservoir Neighbourhood Renewal program.
"By 2011 more than 200 public housing properties will be upgraded using local employment and today more than 40 jobs and over 350 training opportunities have been created for local residents."
The new Nation Building homes will be environmentally friendly, with good insulation and ventilation, water tanks, bike-racks and space for a communal hire-car.
One of the largest infrastructure projects under way in Victoria, the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan - building and maintenance program will see the construction of about 4500 new houses and improvements affecting a further 5600 dwellings.