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The Andrews government, in unison with community and business leaders, is moving to address affordability and supply in the state’s regions.
The Regional Affordable Housing Summit will take place on Tuesday, 4 October in Creswick, near Ballarat. It’s set to develop a platform for discussion, strengthening relationships and identifying challenges and opportunities to meet the needs of the state’s growing regional population.
Minister for Housing Danny Pearson and Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing are set to be joined by a host of representatives from local governments, the community housing sector, the Indigenous community, as well as members of regional partnerships and regional development Australia committees.
A primary focus will be on affordable housing, especially as regional Victoria started 2022 by breaking a 20-year price record. Additionally, the government will expand further on its Affordable Housing Rental Scheme and its strategy to increase housing across the state.
“It’s a good thing that our regions are growing, but we recognise this surge in regional migration puts pressure on the supply of affordable housing,” Mr Pearson said.
At present, one-quarter of the state government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build is being diverted into the state’s regions to ensure the economic and social benefits of the program are felt throughout the whole state.
On top of this, Minimum Investment Guarantees across 18 key regional areas have been established to guide decision-making on the investment.
Mr Pearson added that “by building social and affordable housing in regional Victoria through the Big Housing Build and other initiatives, we’re responding to the increasing population in Victoria’s growth areas and creating more rental housing to support employment growth in regional towns and cities.”
“It is critical to grow housing for locals and people moving to the regions for work, which is why we’re bringing together leaders and decision-makers to overcome barriers and increase affordable housing across regional Victoria,” Ms Shing stated.
