Two housing projects by Hunter-based community housing provider, Home in Place were successful at the HIA-CSR Hunter Housing and Kitchen and Bathroom Awards.
Its 16-unit social and affordable development in Station Street, Wickham won the GreenSmart Sustainable Home of the Year.
The Wickham project was in the running for three awards.
Completed in 2021 under a partnership between the NSW Government, City of Newcastle, and Home in Place, it was one of nearly 500 properties, across 19 Hunter and Central Coast sites, delivered by Home in Place under the NSW Government’s Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF) program.
The Wickham complex was constructed from preformed concrete tilt panels and has a 7.5-star Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme rating.
The homes have 5-star rated efficient water fittings and fixtures, low energy LED lighting, commercial grade window and door glazing, and solar energy to supply hot water and feed back to the grid.
Home In Place CEO Australia, Lyndall Robertshaw said the awards highlight the quality of its social and affordable housing developments and the importance of strong partnerships in delivering much needed housing for local people.
Lyndall said the homes provide more options for key workers and people on low incomes, but not at the expense of the environment.
“The partnership with two levels of government and key local contractors, North Construction and Building, CKDS and Barr Planning, produced an award-winning complex built on time and on budget during the complexities of a global pandemic,” Lyndall said.
“The recognition of the project’s environmental credentials is important to us because Home in Place is committed to sustainability in all aspects of its operations, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“We always seek to apply cost-effective environmental performance and operational principles so the housing is affordable to build, maintain and for tenants to live in. Energy efficient homes help our tenants to save on ever rising power costs.”
Hunter-based Kingston Building won the Specialised Housing and Affordable Housing Award for the 34-unit development it built for Home in Place in Toukley on the Central Coast.
Lyndall said the Toukley project is also a SAHF program development. The three storey, 34 unit, is an outstanding complex thanks to the work of Cardiff-based Kingston Building, The Junction based Space Design Architecture, and other contractors. The project was on budget and completed on time in 2021.
Kingston Building was also a finalist in the Work Health & Safety Award category.
Both projects will now represent the Hunter as finalists in HIA’s 2023 National Housing Awards.
The HIA-CSR Hunter Housing and Kitchen and Bathroom Awards recognised the best of the region’s residential building industry across 33 categories. Greenbuild Constructions took out seven awards including the pinnacle Hunter Home of the Year Award.
IMAGE | Success for Home in Place at the HIA-CSR Hunter Housing and Kitchen and Bathroom Awards.
