Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh (right) says the ADF’s personnel is its most important capability, and the 400 new homes will support the growing Defence population in Townsville. Photo: Matt Keogh Facebook.
The Federal Government says it will build 400 new homes in Townsville under its Defence Housing Australia (DHA) scheme to house increasing numbers of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in the city.
Under the DHA’s New Builds Volume Leasing Program, two local Townsville businesses – Z&Me Property and Maidment Land and Tropical Homes – will deliver the homes, which will then be bought by investors and subsequently leased back to the DHA as new, high quality, affordable accommodation for Defence families.
Townsville is already home to about 4000 ADF personnel, with large bases at the RAAF Base adjacent to the airport and at Lavarack Barracks in the city’s south.
An additional 400 ADF personnel are scheduled to move to the city primarily from Adelaide and Darwin in the next couple of years, including additional troops for Army’s 3rd Brigade and 1st Aviation Regiment.
Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the ADF’s personnel was its most important capability.
“So, it is vital they and their families are well supported with modern, fit for purpose housing in their local communities,” he said.
“The National Defence Strategy made clear that our domestic force posture must change, that we must “deliver a logistically networked and resilient set of bases, predominantly across the north of Australia to enhance force projection.
“A key part of that was the importance of Australia’s north to Australia’s defence and national security,” he added.
“What that means is that the important garrison town of Townsville – where we have some 14,000 current and former serving members of our ADF – becomes even more important to our national security and to the work of our ADF.
“In order to support the movement of Defence personnel and families north we’re expanding the available offering of homes in Townsville.
“Following our recent announcement in Rockingham [WA] to deliver hundreds of homes along with these Townsville agreements, we will be delivering more than 1000 new homes for Defence members and their families over the next five years.”
DHA Chair Dr Robert Lang said DHA had commenced work with Z&Me Property, Maidment Land and Tropical Homes to deliver the homes for Defence members and their families.
“DHA is planning for this increase in Defence personnel and housing support in the region, and our recent relocation to a new office in Townsville is testament to our commitment of providing quality housing services,” he said.
Mr Keogh told media at the announcement that the first of the 400 new homes would start becoming available in the 2025-26 financial year.
“It provides a great investment opportunity for people who want to be getting into that market,” he said.
“But it means also that we’re able to leverage the opportunity of property development to expand the number of houses available to Defence Force members without having to be responsible for owning and building.”
