Master Builders Australia (MBA) has commended the federal government’s decision to sell unused military land for housing.
The Albanese government announced on Wednesday it would be selling off $3 billion worth of unused military land for housing developments to help stem the housing crisis.
“It is common sense to put these 67 underutilised sites to work and MBA continues to call for other Government departments, federal and state, to follow suit,” MBA CEO Denita Wawn said.
“We have long advocated the need to release more Commonwealth land and commend the Government for their forward-thinking announcement.
“Identifying even more opportunities for land release will go a long way in tackling the housing crisis.”
What’s being sold?
Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be sold off after a 2023 audit identified surplus military sites costing millions to maintain.
Spectacle Island in Sydney Harbour will be sold — it has historically been a munitions site during WWI and WWII costing taxpayers $1 million per year to maintain.
Also being sold is an air force base Williams at Laverton in Victoria as well as the Warradale Barracks in South Australia (partially sold off).
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“In order for the Australian defence force to protect our nation and keep Australians safe, it must have a defence estate that meets its operational and capability needs,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told The Guardian.
“For many years this has not been the case, with many defence sites vacant, decaying, under utilised and costing millions of dollars to maintain.”
Smaller sites, including Golf courses, warehouses, training facilities and other vacant land are also slated to be sold off.
Mr Marles has said every dollar raised from sold land will be re-invested into the military.