THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Friday, 28 August 2009
050/2009
COMBET INSPECTS NEW DEFENCE HOUSING IN
TOWNSVILLE
The Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, the Hon Greg Combet
MP, today visited a Defence housing construction site in Townsville, as part of the
Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan.
“These new homes are just some of the 118 Defence houses being built in
Townsville over the next two years by Defence Housing Australia (DHA), as part
of the Stimulus Plan,” Mr Combet said.
“The constructions are injecting over $31.8m into Townsville businesses and the
local construction industry. It is also directly creating over 85 local jobs and
indirectly benefitting many more.”
Prospero Homes and local builders Darryl Boggotto Constructions, Ron Jones
The Builder and Peter Breen Constructions are building these Defence houses.
“These companies pride themselves on using local sub-contractors and materials
when possible. They are generating and maintaining local jobs by employing
local people, who are then giving back to the community,” Mr Combet said.
“There are 26 houses already completed in Townsville and handed over to DHA.
These houses will be provided to Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and
their families, who are posted to the Townsville area.”
DHA has created an Apprenticeship Support Scheme to complement the extra
construction generated by the Rudd Government’s Nation Building and Economic
Stimulus Plan.
“Four apprentices are employed as part of the scheme in Townsville. They have
been working on Defence houses since July and DHA is providing half of their
wage for the full four years of their apprenticeship.”
DHA supplies housing and related services to Australian Defence Force
members and their families in line with Defence operational requirements. DHA
currently manages 17,300 properties across Australia, worth about $7.6 billion.
Please note Defence Media has a new phone number: 02 6127 1999.
The existing number will be automatically diverted to the new number for three
months. The existing after-hours duty mobile 0408 498 664 will remain.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 4771 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
