Canning MP Andrew Hastie has criticized the State Government for delaying the opening of a homelessness facility in Mandurah by two years. Mandurah Common Ground, a $28.1 million facility, was first announced six years ago as part of a plan to tackle high levels of homelessness in the Peel region. However, construction was scheduled to begin in early 2023, but it has now been pushed back to next year, and the opening date has been postponed to 2026 instead of 2024.
According to Mr. Hastie, the McGowan Government has let the community down by delaying the opening of the facility. He added that this move is a serious blow to many of Mandurah's most vulnerable, who are already struggling with the high cost of living in the area. The delays in the project have left many locals seeking housing assistance to cope with their current living conditions.
Mr. Hastie has called on the government to take immediate action to address the issue of homelessness in the region. He believes that the government cannot ignore this issue and hope that it goes away. Instead, they should take responsibility and work towards providing better living conditions for the region's vulnerable population.
On the other hand, a State Government spokesperson has said that they remain committed to the East Perth and Mandurah Common Ground projects. The East Perth Common Ground tender process closed in February 2023, and the evaluation process is currently underway. Meanwhile, the Mandurah Common Ground project is undergoing a building design review process, and any learnings from the tendering process for East Perth will be considered for the Mandurah development.
The Mandurah Common Ground facility is expected to have 50 units and will be built on the corner of Allnutt and Dower streets. It is part of the government's plan to tackle the issue of homelessness in the Peel region, which has seen a significant increase in recent years. The facility is designed to provide housing for the region's most vulnerable population and will also offer a range of support services to help residents get back on their feet.
