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Current News
Flynn Community Centre
The next Flynn Community Centre meeting will be held on 2 February 2012 at 6PM at the Flynn Community Centre.
Closing date for input of the conservation strategy stage 2 has been extended until COB Friday 24 February 2012. Please contact Peter Johns on 6207 8170 or peter.johns@act.gov.au for further information. more information on the Flynn Community Centre.
Redevelopment of land in Braddon and Reid
The ACT Government is proposing to redevelop land in Braddon and Reid, commonly known as the ABC Flats, to allow for the construction of up to 1,100 apartments.
This is compared to the 440 that currently exist, and a significant proportion of the new development will be retained for public housing.
Some of the land is occupied by public housing, Allawah Court and Currong Apartments and Bega Court (Section 52 Braddon and Section 7 Reid). The remainder of the land is occupied by various organisations which form part of the Catholic Church (Section 57 Braddon).
Housing ACT is undertaking ongoing consultation into the proposed redevelopment and is keen to hear the views of the community on this significant project. Don’t miss your chance to contribute at the next consultation session taking place from 6pm on Thursday, 16 February at the Griffin Centre, Genge Street, Civic.
This consultation is in addition to that being conducted by the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, which has issued a draft Territory Plan Variation that would allow for the redevelopment of the site for more dense housing and commercial uses. Consultation on this closes on 20 February 2012 and documents can be found at www.actpla.act.gov.au.
If you would like more information about the planning study or the potential redevelopment proposal please contact (02) 62078170 or peter.johns@act.gov.au.
Affordable Rental Scheme
The ACT Affordable Rental Office currently has 19 rental properties available for older Canberrans.
Each of the energy efficient, two-bedroom self-contained properties are set in landscape surrounds. They include a wide range of energy efficiency, low running cost and easy access features and secure integrated parking.
They are located close to amenities such as public transport, clubs and shops. Older Canberrans are encouraged to apply and, if they meet the eligibility criteria, will be offered a three-year tenancy agreement and receive a 25 per cent discount on current private rents.
We are now accepting applications on properties at Bonython, Chapman, Florey, Kambah and Rivett.
Please call 6207 1150 for more information.
Fact Sheet - Steps in the Process [RTF 520KB]
Fact Sheet - Steps in the Process [PDF 240KB]
Fact Sheet - Affordable Rental Scheme [RTF 516KB]
Fact Sheet - Affordable Rental Scheme [PDF 240KB]
Form - Affordable Housing Document Checklist [RTF 510KB]
Form - Affordable Housing Document Checklist [PDF 182KB]
Form - Affordable Housing Referee Details [RTF 502KB]
Form - Affordable Housing Referee Details [PDF 121KB]
Joint Champions Group
Are you a Housing ACT tenant with an interest in public housing issues? Do you enjoy working with others and meeting new people? If so, you could be an ideal member of the Joint Champions Group.
Housing ACT is calling for public housing tenants to apply for the Joint Champions Group, for the next two-year term (commencing 2012). To apply, please see the link to the Expression of Interest form, below.
The Joint Champions Group works with Housing ACT to develop solutions that lead to improved services. The group is made up of public housing tenants and Housing ACT staff and meets regularly during each two-year term. You don’t need special qualifications to be a member – training and support will be provided.
A general information session about the Joint Champions Group for the two-year term commencing in 2012 will be held at Nature Conservation House in Belconnen (corner of Emu Bank and Benjamin Way) on Tuesday 17 January 2012, at 2pm. To RSVP, please email HousingJointChampions@act.gov.au or phone (02) 6207 8776 or (02) 6207 4516.
Applications close on 31 January 2012.
Joint Champions Group Expression of Interest form [RTF 454KB]
Joint Champions Group Expression of Interest form [PDF 140KB]
Flynn Community Centre
The next Flynn Community Centre meeting will be held on the 17 November 2011 at 6.00pm at the Flynn Community Centre Hall. Flynn Community Centre Newsletter No 5
Northbourne Flats Design Competition Winner
A dramatic remodelling of the Northbourne flats providing more than 900 homes is the winner of a national competition to redesign the major public housing complex.
Award-winning architect firm John Wardle Architects has been announced as the winner of the national competition.
The winning entry, Weave, more than trebles the number of units currently on site while incorporating features that help it retain an open feel, remain sympathetic to its immediate environment and promote sustainability.
View the winning entry, design no 27.
Maintenance Satisfaction Survey
Housing ACT has developed a Maintenance Satisfaction Survey trial to commence in November 2011. This trial will enable tenants to provide Housing ACT direct feedback on their experience of the TFM Call Centre and their satisfaction with the maintenance recently undertaken in their home. A satisfaction survey form will be handed to the tenant by the contractor on the day the work is completed. The form is to be completed and returned to Housing ACT. Alternatively the survey is available on-line.
As a means of thanking tenants for their participation, all completed survey forms (both hard copy and electronic that include the work order number), will be entered into a draw to win a $200 voucher from Bunnings. 4 draws will be made in a calendar year at the start of each season.
Improved Support – Stronger Communities
Antisocial Behaviour Response and Support in Housing ACT
Housing ACT is currently conducting community consultation on the issue of how best to address antisocial behaviour in public housing. In particular, this consultation is seeking input on working models to best utilise the proposed Antisocial Behaviour Specialist Response and Support Workers. The consultation period for the Improved Support Stronger Communities initiative has now been extended to 16 December 2011. The discussion paper can be downloaded, via the link below, and provides some context for the consultation and a series of questions designed to stimulate discussion. Input can be lodged during the discussion period at antisocialresponse@act.gov.au
Discussion Paper Antisocial Behaviour Response [RTF 951KB]
Discussion Paper Antisocial Behaviour Response [PDF 187KB]
Improved Support – Stronger Communities Feedback
Feedback on the Improved Support Stronger Communities discussion paper and feedback generated at the community-government forum has been compiled in a table with Housing ACT responses. The document can be downloaded via the link below.
Improved Support - Stronger Communities Feedback [RTF 1052KB]
Improved Support - Stronger Communities Feedback [PDF 139KB]
2011 Autumn Newsletter
View the Housing ACT's Autumn newsletter
Management and Operation of the Griffin Centre
The ACT Government provides a number of community facilities to accommodate community organisations from which they can operate to offer a range of programs to the Canberra community. The Government is calling for Expressions of Interest from community based organisations to manage the Griffin Centre in the City.
The organisation selected to manage the Griffin Centre will have a specific focus on the effective and proper management of the Centre with a view to delivering services and benefits to the community. The selected respondent to this EOI will also be required to undertake the services to manage the activities of the Centre and the tenants of the Centre, noting that the tenants are community organisations and will be charged in accordance with Government directions for rental charges for community organisations.
Expression of Interest Guidelines
Gateway Satisfaction Survey
Narrabundah Long Stay Park
Today saw the release of the option paper into the future of the Narrabundah Long Stay Park along with the Government interim response to the paper.
The Government actively intervened to protect the Park residents from being evicted by a private developer. This intervention was a strong indication of the Government’s commitment to the Park and its residents. That commitment remains today.
Options paper and Government Interim response 
Or contact The Narrabundah Long Stay park Liaison Officer on 62075114
Total Facilities Management Tender
As previously advised, the current Total Facilities Management contract expires on 30 June 2012 and HACS began, in December 2010, the procurement process for services to be delivered from 1 July 2012.
On 10 December 2010, Procurement Solutions, on behalf of Community Services Directorate called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) as part of the first stage of a two stage tender process. The EOI stage has closed and we have now progressed to the Select Tender stage, Request for Tender.
On 11 April 2011, invitations were forwarded to the shortlisted respondents to submit a Request for Tender. To ensure probity is maintained throughout this process, all correspondence must be controlled.
Please direct all correspondence from respondents to Mr Craig Spencer, TFM Project Team - craig.spencer@act.gov.au so that the correspondence can be documented.
I would like to thank you for your input throughout the process. All comments and input has been recorded.
If you have any questions, please refer them to Mr Spencer.
The Social Housing Register - A centralised waiting list for public and community housing in the ACT
1 September 2010 marked the commencement of a centralised waiting list for public and community housing in the ACT, giving low and middle income Canberrans a greater choice of housing products with a single application. The new system will mean that for the first time the ACT will have a single entry point for people applying for public and community housing, and will create a more efficient and responsive social housing system.
ACT Minister for Housing and Community Services Joy Burch announced the program on 30 August 2010. Ms Burch said the Social Housing Register will combine registration and application processes for both public and community housing.
"People seeking public and community housing will now only have to fill out one form and engage in one assessment process to be registered for multiple housing providers," Ms Burch said.
"They can also nominate their interest in shared accommodation. The register will facilitate a simpler and fairer way to access housing assistance, provide greater housing choice and present a clearer understanding of housing demand."
The Social Housing Register is in line with commitments under the ACT Implementation Plan for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and the Nation Building and Jobs Plan. A key deliverable of the National Partnership Agreement is to offer ‘more connected, integrated and responsive services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness'.
"All Australian jurisdictions are required to move to a form of centrally managed waiting lists by July 2011 and the ACT will be one of the first jurisdictions to implement such a process," Ms Burch said.
The current application process presents a number of challenges for people seeking housing assistance, because it requires them to apply for public and community housing through different processes.
"Housing ACT will manage the Social Housing Register, and community housing applicants will be subject to eligibility and needs assessment similar to that currently used for social housing.
"The existing three needs categories will be applied comprising priority housing, high needs housing and standard housing."
Transitional arrangements have also been included to ensure the original date of an application to a community housing provider will be considered in future allocations.
When a housing provider notifies the Housing Commissioner of a dwelling vacancy, Housing ACT will identify one or more applicants who meet the relevant criteria and will forward the details of these applicants to the housing provider for consideration.
Although housing providers will decide on the successful applicants, they will be required to inform the Housing Commissioner of the reasons why particular applicants were unsuccessful.
