News and Media
5 January 2011
DHA purchases more land in Townsville
In December 2010 Defence Housing Australia (DHA) acquired a new future residential housing site in Townsville suburb of Rasmussen. The new purchase consists of approximately 100 hectares of land that will be used to build further accommodation for incoming troops.
It is expected this site in Rasmussen will generate around 1,100 residential lots in total with approximately a third being reserved for Defence housing and the remainder being sold to the public.
The land purchase has coincided with the growing numbers of Defence personnel, due to the relocation of the 3rd Battalion Royal Australia Regiment (3RAR). This will consist of around 1500 Defence personnel being relocated to Townsville by 2012.
DHA has already started to increase the number of houses being built in Townsville, with the grant from the Government's stimulus package already adding to the Defence housing stock. The new land purchase will continue to support the residential construction industry in the region.
The Defence houses will all be built to a minimum six star energy rating with broadband access also being provided.
The site of these new houses will be ideally located for Defence members posted to the Lavarack Barracks, who will only have a 10 minute commute to work each day. Also being located just 17 kilometres from the Townsville CBD, this estate will provide Defence members and their families with a sense of their own space with the advantages of still being close to the town centre.
"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," said Minister for Defence Personnel, Mr Warren Snowdon.
Minister for Defence Personnel, Mr Warren Snowdon MP made the announcement in relation to the purchase in December. It is expected that civil works will begin early in 2011.