Work has begun on a new housing development at Noarlunga Downs, where vacant land will be transformed into a vibrant new community with 48 homes, with a focus on affordable and social housing.
The 48-home project will be delivered by UnitingSA and is supported through a $3.5 million investment through the Albanese Labor Government’s Social Housing Accelerator Program, facilitated by the Malinauskas Labor Government through the SA Housing Trust.
The project will include 23 social and affordable homes and 23 townhouses that will be built on site and sold to market.
UnitingSA also intends to restore two heritage listed buildings on the site and adapt them into family homes.
UnitingSA has engaged Kennett Builders to work on the development. Land division, civil and infrastructure works will commence at the site later this year.
The location has a significant history. Adjacent to the Ngangkiparri/Onkaparinga River, from 1867, the site was a farm established by Alfred Perry. The location is named after his wife, Eleanora Gordon Clark.
In 1958, the land was sold to Westbourne Methodist Church and operated as a campsite for around 20 years.
In 1980, Rev Jack and Peggy Goodluck, with the support of the Uniting Church, opened ‘Eleanora’ as a community centre. Over the years, the centre expanded to become a 26-bed homelessness shelter. It provided crisis accommodation to adults in the Noarlunga area until it closed in 2017.
With the additional development at Noarlunga, UnitingSA will now provide homes to over 1,000 South Australians.
Quotes attributable to the Member for Kingston, Amanda Rishworth:
The Albanese Government has invested $3.5 million to this worthy project in Noarlunga Downs, supporting the delivery of 48 new homes including 23 new social and affordable homes.
The location of this site is significant and importantly UnitingSA intends to restore the two heritage listed buildings on the site and adapt into family homes.
I look forward to welcoming the people and families who will eventually call the Southern Suburbs their home.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Nick Champion:
Turning vacant land into a thriving community, while restoring two heritage buildings that mean so much to local history, is exactly the kind of thoughtful urban renewal our State needs.
Projects like this show what’s possible when governments and community housing providers work together to tackle the housing crisis, one development at a time.
Quotes attributable to the State Member for Kaurna, Chris Picton:
It’s fantastic to see this significant development get underway right here in the South, delivering 48 new homes for local families and creating more housing supply for the state.
This site has such a special place in our local history, and I’m happy this development honours its past while providing safe, affordable homes for the future.
This outcome is a result of two Labor Governments pulling every lever to deliver housing supply, partnering with a brilliant organisation in Uniting SA to deliver more homes for South Australians
Quotes attributable to Stephen Dawes, Acting CEO, UnitingSA
This development will provide much-needed housing in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
It is very fitting that a site that was once used as a homeless shelter providing support to vulnerable people, will now be developed into social and affordable housing.
This development has been cleverly designed. It will honour the site’s past, utilising buildings of historical significance, while also delivering contemporary homes for people to rent and buy.
In addition, to the social and affordable housing, 25 homes will be sold to market and will help to increase housing supply in the southern suburbs.
Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. UnitingSA is keen to partner with the government to fast-track more housing developments to address the current shortfall.
Media Contact:
Shannon Short
Communications and Media Lead
UnitingSA
0466 419 528