Public housing lots stand empty
Almost 500 blocks of public housing land in WA are unused while more than 41,000 people wait for a State-owned property to live in.
Some of the 492 plots, where in most cases a social home was demolished, have been vacant almost 20 years.
Almost 200 are in the Perth metropolitan area in suburbs such as Claremont, Fremantle and Joondanna and were estimated to be worth $150 million.
WA Department of Housing's Greg Cash said the vacant blocks made up about one per cent of the total public housing stock of 36,694 properties.
"Sites may remain vacant for a range of reasons, including waiting for development approvals, amalgamation, rezoning or planning approvals to deliver the best outcomes for affordable and social housing," he said.
The list, provided under Freedom of Information laws, reveals empty lots include 6131sqm in Fremantle since September 2012, 7767sqm in Kenwick since November 2001 and 40,400sqm in Southern River since early January 2001.
Housing Minister Colin Holt said most blocks were in regional areas with low or sporadic demand for public housing or land.
"Current market conditions should not jeopardise the State Government's long-term vision strategy for affordable housing, nor dictate the need for panicked selling when such properties are critical to our vision," he said.
As well as the 492 blocks, 353 public houses were not occupied as at January 31.
Nicole Sullivan is one of 41,179 people who have applied for public housing in WA and has been waiting since 2009.
The mother of a 17-month-old child said she was annoyed to learn of the vacant blocks when she faced waiting years to be able to rent a State-owned property.
Ms Sullivan rents privately, paying $660 a fortnight, which leaves her little to live on.
Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the number of empty blocks and the time spent vacant was a big issue but the Government showed little urgency.
Mr Cash said 13 sites were being developed, yielding 52 homes.
