Australia: $30 Million land investment in Townsville

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, today announced that Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has invested $30 million to buy a site of approximately 100 hectares at Rasmussen in Townsville.

The site on Beck Drive will provide more than 1,100 residential lots of which about one third will be reserved for Defence housing, with the remainder available to the community.

“Given the location of the land we expect it to be popular with both Defence members and the broader Townsville community.

“The site is well located for Defence members posted to Lavarack Barracks. These members will have only a ten minute commute each day but will also live only six kilometres from the Thuringowa town centre,” Mr Snowdon said.

Mr Snowdon said the the Rasmussen development will provide for the possibility of a neighbourhood shopping centre.

“We are not just building new homes for the people in the area, but a new hub for the community, which would be of significant benefit to the community.

“This development is also a much needed boost for Townsville’s building industry and follows on from the benefits provided by the Government’s Nation Building- Economic Stimulus Plan.”

The new houses will be constructed to the Government -mandated six-star energy rating and broadband access will also be provided.

The Rasmussen development will provide additional housing to support the growing garrison in Townsville when the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) relocates to Townsville in 2012. To accommodate the additional Defence families in Townsville at the end of 2011, DHA has:

constructed 141 houses in 2009-10 constructed another 118 houses, funded by the Nation Building–Economic Stimulus Plan plans to build an additional 186 houses in 2010-2011 The timing of the Rasmussen development will depend on obtaining approval by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. DHA will provide the Standing Committee with a detailed development plan and once this is approved earthworks will begin.

ENDS

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