On track: Wakaden Street housing project set for early 2025 completion

November 27, 2024

This article was first published by Inland Rail on 26 Nov 2024. Click here to view the full article.

Housing in Griffith will be in better shape from early next year with the completion of Argyle Housing’s Wakaden Street project.

Griffith City Council facilitated land to Argyle Housing some years back to ease the housing availability crisis in the city.

An aerial view of the Wakaden Street Affordable Housing project. Picture supplied

Construction has been underway for some time but Argyle Housing CEO Carolyn Doherty is assuring residents it is on track.

“The project has been progressing smoothly according to the planned timeline,” she told The Area News.

Planning for the project began when the Griffith Housing Strategy was adopted in 2019.

The development application was lodged in September 2020 and construction began in 2023.

The site will feature four two-storey, two-bedroom townhouses and expressions of interest will be published on the Argyle Housing website early next year.

She says it will be a crucial step in addressing Griffith’s accommodation needs.

“The Wakaden Street affordable housing project addresses a significant housing gap for key workers and middle-income families struggling to afford market rentals,” she said.

Argyle Housing CEO Carolyn Doherty says the project is on track for an early 2025 completion. Picture file

“This project provides affordable, quality housing, ensuring essential community members like teachers, hospitality workers and healthcare professionals have stable homes.

“Adding new residences helps alleviate local housing pressures and reduces homelessness.

“It sets a precedent for future affordable housing projects, promoting a balanced and sustainable housing market,” she said.

“This project is a vital step towards a more inclusive and supportive community in Griffith.”

Another Argyle Housing initiative, the Griffin Green Project, was officially unveiled in August.

The exact cost of the Wakaden Street project is yet to be publicly disclosed.

Meanwhile, housing data collated in council’s new ‘State of Our City’ report indicates ever increasing demand in Griffith.

Some trends of note for the city include:

• A 26 per cent increase in median weekly rent from 2016 to 2021
• Median sale prices for houses jumped from $330,000 in 2018 to $533,750 in 2023
• Households increased by nine per cent, with 8,483 in 2016 to 9,266 in 2021
• There was a 14 per cent increase in households renting with 2,685 in 2016 to 3,067 in 2021
• 749 homeless were receiving help in 2021/22, rising to 855 in 2022/23
• There were $118 million in building approvals in 2020/21 and $130 million in 2023/24
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Griffith mayor Doug Curran speaking at the unveiling of the Griffin Green project on July 31.

The report can be found at https://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/integrated-planning-reporting-framework

More information on the Wakaden Street project can be found at www.argylehousing.com.au