The article discusses the ongoing saga of the redevelopment of the Brownlie Towers site in Bentley, Western Australia. Despite promises made by the government in 2018 to redevelop the site for public housing, more than six years later, no progress has been made. The new Housing Minister, John Carey, blames the pandemic for stalling the redevelopment, but critics argue that the government prioritized private building industry interests over public housing needs during COVID. The government’s failure to follow through on its promises raises questions about its priorities and commitment to addressing the housing crisis.
The satellite image of the Brownlie Towers site serves as a symbol of Labor’s failed housing policies, with no visible progress despite years of talk and investment. Former premier Mark McGowan announced millions in building grants and concessions during COVID to support the homebuilding sector, but public housing needs were neglected. The government’s failure to prioritize the redevelopment of Brownlie Towers, despite its importance in 2018, calls into question its commitment to addressing housing issues. The pandemic may have provided an excuse for the government’s inaction, but it also exposed its lack of follow-through on crucial promises.
The government’s recent announcement of a “streamlined delivery” for the Bentley redevelopment project raises skepticism about its intentions. The new masterplan for the former Brownlie Towers site will be developed with community input, but Carey’s claims that the pandemic has affected the economics of large-scale redevelopments are met with skepticism. The government’s willingness to absorb cost blowouts for projects like Metronet suggests that economic concerns are not the real reason for the lack of progress on the Brownlie Towers site. The government’s failure to prioritize public housing needs over private interests raises concerns about its commitment to creating inclusive communities and addressing urban regeneration.
Carey’s repetition of hollow words from 2018, about creating an inclusive community in Bentley through the redevelopment of Brownlie Towers, is seen as a cynical attempt to revive a stalled project. The government’s shifting priorities and lack of progress on the project suggest a lack of commitment to addressing the housing crisis in Western Australia. The failure to deliver on promises made in 2018, despite ample funding and resources, highlights the government’s shortcomings in addressing public housing needs. The ongoing saga of the Brownlie Towers redevelopment serves as a reminder of the government’s neglect of its responsibilities to provide affordable housing and support for vulnerable communities.
Overall, the article highlights the government’s failure to follow through on promises made in 2018 to redevelop the Brownlie Towers site for public housing. Despite significant investments in the homebuilding sector during COVID, public housing needs were neglected, raising questions about the government’s priorities. The recent announcement of a new masterplan for the site is met with skepticism, as it appears to be a cynical attempt to revive a stalled project. The government’s lack of progress on the Brownlie Towers redevelopment serves as a symbol of its neglect of public housing needs and its failure to create inclusive communities in Western Australia.
