Question Time in the NSW Parliament this week brought some answers many locals are searching for, as the Minister for Planning and Homes spoke to the houses across the Barwon electorate that remain boarded up and empty amid an ongoing housing crisis.

Minister for Barwon Roy Butler took to Parliament the question that has echoed across the Western Plains for years; what can be done with the empty government houses in the region? 

“Across regional NSW many towns are struggling with housing supply, at the same time many towns have houses that are boarded up and sitting empty. What can be done…to get disused homes back into the rental market?” Mr Butler asked. 

Minister for Planning and Homes Anthony Roberts said that while various social housing houses have ‘come to the end of their life’, there is a search to make improvements. 

“We’re currently working with inspectors to assess the condition of ACHP (Aboriginal Community Housing Provider) properties in the electorate…to determine what repairs are needed,” Mr Roberts said. 

According to Mr Roberts, 11 new houses will be replacing boarded up homes in Bourke, Brewarrina and Lake Cargelligo. 

The response also outlined various other housing projects that make up the Barwon’s cut of funding, with 30 per cent of 2.8 billion awarded to regional NSW housing.

“We are investing significantly in Far Western NSW, with some almost 14 million budgeted for the construction of 25 homes in the Barwon electorate,” Mr Roberts said. 

Those 25 homes will see two for Bourke, five for Brewarrina and two for Cobar. 

It is unlikely that waiting for new houses to be built will satisfy residents looking for homes now. Renovating empty public housing is seen by many as a quicker fix.

In the next three years 49 homes are expected across the Barwon, including Baradine, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Cobar, Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Goodooga, Lake Cargelligo, Nyngan, Walgett, Warren and Ravenswood. 

“The new homes will be a mix of large, five bed and smaller two bed units to address identified gaps,” Mr Roberts said. 

So far this year, 10 new homes were built to address demand for Aboriginal Housing in Bourke, Lightning Ridge, Narrabri and Walgett. 

Local infrastructure is set to receive funding for the improvements to counter growing populations, including fixes to roads, community transport, postal delivery and rubbish collection under the Roads to Home program. 

As questions get asked and answered in Question Time, there is so far little trace of fresh licks of paint and cut grass on the boarded up houses across the Western Plains.