State Housing Minister Rose Jackson MP announced $450,000 of funding over three years for a new tenant engagement initiative in Hamilton South.

5 April 2025

Update: Homes NSW has since responded to concerns regarding boarded up homes at Hamilton South. Click Here Read Their Response

newy.com.au – According to housing minister, Rose Jackson MP, a multi-million dollar investment is transforming social housing in Newcastle, with the Minns Labor Government funnelling $4.7 million into critical maintenance and repairs since July 2024. The move is part of a broader push to address a longstanding backlog in public housing upkeep and reimagine communities such as Hamilton South through tenant-led renewal efforts.

The introduction of the Homes NSW Maintenance Hub has streamlined the repair process, resulting in nearly 170 significant property upgrades across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. These works have focused on ageing infrastructure, including the replacement of kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, and flooring, core concerns that have plagued tenants for years.

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the investments mark a deliberate shift from the previous policy of funding maintenance by selling off housing stock. “We’ve ended the cycle of selling homes to maintain homes. Instead, we’re putting in new money to bring dignity back to public housing,” she said during a media conference.

In addition to the maintenance blitz, $450,000 has been allocated to the Hunter Community Alliance for a new tenant engagement initiative at the Hamilton South estate. This initiative, starting mid-2025, will include forming a Hamilton South Tenant Leadership Group to work with Homes NSW on future improvements. Community organiser Shaylie Pryer described it as a “bottom-up approach” where tenants are empowered to lead the change they want to see.

Residents have voiced mixed emotions, while many welcome the renewed attention, concerns remain over urgent maintenance issues and the number of boarded-up homes during a homelessness crisis. Jackson acknowledged the situation, stating some vacant properties are awaiting redevelopment or significant repairs and pledged faster turnaround times.

The engagement model being trialled in Hamilton South is the first of its kind in the state, focusing on meaningful, grassroots dialogue through street meetings, door-knocking, and community events. “We’re not just talking about quick fixes, we’re also building the foundations for long-term transformation,” Jackson said.

The government is also eyeing opportunities to redevelop outdated properties on large blocks into modern, accessible townhouses, with a commitment to tenant inclusion and minimal disruption.

With a housing crisis still gripping the region, this combined focus on maintenance, engagement, and redevelopment offers a fresh chapter for Newcastle’s public housing landscape, one where tenants have a real say in shaping their future.

Despite the $4.7 million invested in critical maintenance and repairs, Newy 87.8 observed extensive graffiti, smashed windows, rubbish piles, abandoned cars and borded up units during our walk through the Hamilton South complex on Friday, as shown in the video.