• Miles Government has purchased the former Tanah Merah Village
• Will provide 124 homes – the largest purchase to-date
• The fifth former retirement village or aged care facility purchased or leased by the government for social housing

The Miles Government has purchased another vacant former retirement village to provide housing for people in need – the largest purchase to-date

The former Tanah Merah village will provide 124 homes for older Queenslanders in need – including single people, couples and small adult families.

The former retirement village is made up of 85 one-bedroom and 39 two-bedroom units, designed for independent living.

The purchase was funded through the government’s Housing Investment Fund, and the former retirement village will undergo some minor upgrades before welcoming the first residents by mid-year.

A community housing provider will also be appointed to provide on-site supports to residents.

This property is the fifth former retirement village or aged care facility purchased or leased by the Queensland Government for use as social housing, following similar purchases and leases in Clayfield, Toowoomba, Redlands and Rothwell.

The purchase of the Tanah Merah property means the government will have delivered 265 homes for Queenslanders in need by purchasing or leasing former retirement villages and aged care facilities.

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“While we get on with our Big Build, we’re also buying and leasing former hotels, motels and retirement villages to help more Queenslanders into a home sooner.

“We are leaving no stone unturned – we’ve increased capacity for pre-fab homes, opened a new QBuild centre to build houses, we’ve bought hotels, invested an historic $6 billion into social and affordable housing and unlocked land supply for the private housing market.

“This is another example of how our Housing Investment Fund is delivering for Queenslanders in need and we make no apology for using the fund to purchase homes to deliver housing sooner.

“That’s unlike the LNP whose record is clear - they cut funding for social housing and they won’t stand up to Peter Dutton to get Queenslanders more help. Queenslanders deserve better than that.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman:

“We know that older people are among the groups most impacted by the ongoing housing pressures, which is why these homes will be targeted towards seniors.

“We will be able to provide stable, secure and affordable homes for 124 households in need here, sooner.

“This is a fantastic initiative of the government and joins other projects happening right across our Logan community.”

Further information:

Anyone who needs housing assistance can contact their local Housing Service Centre during business hours or call the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.