Housing Support Program
Cook AP
Author
The HSP is a $1.5 billion Labor government initiative launched to help achieve their National Housing Accord target. It's structured in three distinct streams:
Planning Capability Stream ($500M total package split between states/territories and local governments)
Helps governments improve their planning systems and capabilities
Already announced on July 5, 2024 by PM Albanese
Community Enabling Infrastructure Stream (Part of initial $500M)
Funds infrastructure and community amenities needed for new housing
Currently being assessed, with announcements expected late 2024
Will fund things like water, power, sewage, roads, community centres and parks
Priority Works Stream ($1B - newly announced in 2024-25 Budget)
Provides funding for major enabling infrastructure
Also allows states to build new social housing
Just announced as part of the latest budget
Through Stream 1 of the program, Labor has already funded 80 projects across the country - including 73 local government and 7 state/territory projects - to unlock housing supply through better local planning and development.
These projects include major planning initiatives like Blacktown City Council's $1.5 million study to enable 50,000 new homes around nine train stations, a $1.2 million Planning Cadet Program in Victoria to boost regional planning capability, and $355,000 for Flinders University to establish a new Bachelor in Urban and Regional Planning. The program is also supporting housing in regional and remote areas, with $150,000 for Bundaberg's hospital precinct plan for 1,300 dwellings and $160,000 for Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council's Future Housing Supply Strategy.
The second stream of the program is providing $450 million for essential infrastructure like roads, water, power, sewage connections and community facilities needed to support new housing developments. Labor has further boosted the program through an additional $1 billion Priority Works Stream. Under this stream, 75% of funding will support major enabling infrastructure projects including roads, utilities, demolition, community infrastructure and public spaces, and other essential housing-enabling works. The remaining 25% can be used by states for new social housing, including renovations of uninhabitable properties. To ensure quick delivery, states must complete at least 60% of projects by June 2026 and all remaining works by June 2027.
[1] https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/cities/housing-support-program
[2] https://www.pm.gov.au/media/new-funding-deliver-more-homes-australia
[3] https://federalfinancialrelations.gov.au/agreements/housing-support-program-priority-works
[4] https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/hsp-stream1-successful-applicants.pdf
[5] https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/albanese-government-turbocharging-housing-victoria
[6] https://www.pm.gov.au/media/boosting-australias-housing-supply
[7] https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/julie-collins-2022/media-releases/applications-now-open-500-million-housing-support