The NSW government has announced the commencement of critical maintenance upgrades for social homes under the $1 billion Repair and Restore Maintenance blitz, as part of the recent budget aimed at fixing 30,000 public homes in dire need of repair.
This initiative marks a significant step towards improving the state’s public housing system.
Homes NSW will begin scoping the first 750 homes across 55 Local Government Areas (LGAs) identified for the initial phase of repairs.
The targeted areas include:
- 65 homes in the Blacktown LGA
- 47 homes in the Wollongong LGA
- 44 homes in the Campbelltown LGA
- 44 homes in the Cumberland LGA
- 43 homes in the Newcastle LGA
- 43 homes in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA
Six tenderers have been selected to partner with Homes NSW to deliver these maintenance works.
The companies include Assett Group Services Pty Ltd, BGIS Pty Ltd, Programmed Facility Maintenance Pty Ltd, Downer Spotless Facility Services Pty Ltd, SR Construction Pty Ltd, and Ventia.
Four of these companies are new providers, bringing a fresh approach to the maintenance service delivery.
The contracts for these services went live on July 1, 2024.
In a significant overhaul of the public housing maintenance system, the NSW government has launched The Maintenance Hub, bringing critical maintenance services back into public hands.
This move aims to streamline maintenance requests and improve service delivery.
Under the previous government, maintenance was privatised, resulting in a disjointed and inefficient system where tenants faced long delays and bureaucratic hurdles.
From July 1, Homes NSW staff will directly coordinate and manage maintenance requests, ensuring high standards of work and customer service.
The new system promises improved response times, better coordination of work orders, and enhanced outcomes for tenants.
The Maintenance Hub will also feature a new tenant portal to track repair works and ensure more staff are available to monitor the progress and quality of maintenance.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson emphasised the urgency of the maintenance blitz, stating: “We are wasting no time since announcing the critical maintenance funding in last month’s budget. We are getting on with the job by identifying regions where our existing homes need restoring back to their former glory, ensuring homes aren’t falling into disrepair while also enabling people on the waitlist to have a roof over their heads sooner.”
Jackson highlighted the importance of putting residents at the heart of the public housing system and working with experienced partners to ensure timely and effective maintenance.
She acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence in the new approach, which includes supporting small businesses, and local tradespeople, and creating jobs, especially in regional areas.
The NSW government’s new maintenance approach under the Building Homes for NSW program aims to address longstanding issues of neglect and underfunding in the public housing sector.
By bringing maintenance services back under public control and establishing robust partnerships, the government seeks to provide safe, secure, and well-maintained homes for its residents.