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Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has confirmed that Townville is facing a 'housing challenge' as Australian Defence Force personnel struggle to find accommodation in the town.
Recent reporting from News Corp's Townsville Bulletin has alleged that members of a long-term Townsville infantry unit were evicted to make room for new personnel late last year.
In addition, the paper reportedly found that the eviction of long-term personnel was 'common practice', and that some soldiers were forced to find emergency accommodation in guard rooms and hotels.
The Deputy PM and Minister for Defence, speaking to ABC North Queensland on February 24, confirmed that the government is investigating accommodation issues in the town.
"Obviously, I saw those reports over the course of the weekend and we're speaking with the Department and running them to ground. So, I'm not in a position to comment further about the specific reports other than to say we're confident that we do have the housing in place to support those who are currently in Townsville," he said.
"There's a planned increase in the number of personnel coming to Townsville over the next few years, which is going to be fantastic for Defence's presence in Townsville. It'll be really good for the Townsville economy.
"But there is a housing challenge associated with that and that's why we're building on our 1200 houses that Defence Housing Australia has, we've announced that we will be pursuing another 400 houses through DHA and through leasing arrangements. And those coming to Townsville obviously are not happening overnight, it will ramp up over a number of years and we're confident that we will be able to meet the challenge of providing housing as well, of course, as what we're doing more generally in terms of building housing stock around the country.
"I'm confident that we are meeting the housing needs of those who are currently serving in Townsville, be it at Lavarack or at RAAF Base Townsville. And we are also confident that we will be able to meet the challenge of the increasing numbers of servicemen and women as they grow in Townsville over the coming years."
The Deputy PM also confirmed that the ADF is expected to begin its Apache attack helicopter program in Townsville at the end of this year.
"The most significant change in the immediate term is the attack class helicopters, which will start operating from Townsville at the end of the year," he said.
"That's a shift from Darwin, which is the current Tiger helicopter, which we're using in Darwin, but we'll be using the Apaches as they come online at the end of this year in Townsville.
"There are some families associated with that program who have already moved to Townsville, we're talking in the tens at this point. But over the near term, or over the medium term, I should say, there will be more than that. But again, we are confident about the numbers of houses that we will, and accommodation that we will be able to be put in place for those families."
