Login
iscover
The state has revealed the housing initiatives that will receive funding from the first round of its new $150 million grant program.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, alongside Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney, visited Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton to announce the first round of the $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund. More than 20 projects will be rolled out, delivering housing options for Victorian workers aimed at easing the pressure on regional communities.
Part of the Labor government’s ongoing $45 billion investment in regional and rural Victoria since 2014, the initiative is intended to strengthen the appeal of these towns as prime locations to live, work and visit.
“These projects will mean Victorians can live close to where they work and [that] our incredible regional towns are attracting the skilled workers they need to keep their local economies booming,” the Premier said.
All successful projects are shovel-ready and involve co-investment from private businesses, industries and local community groups. With private and public funding, these new homes represent $250 million in new housing.
“We’re working closely with private sector businesses, industry and community groups to build the homes and accommodation our towns need,” Tierney said.
“This will make sure regional areas have the skilled workers they need so our communities can prosper.”
Each project will be tailored to meet local needs, providing various housing types, including self-contained units, worker villages, family dwellings, shared accommodations and studios. These developments will support key sectors like health, agriculture, education, manufacturing and tourism.
In Shepparton, for example, Goulburn Valley Health is set to build 15 self-contained apartments to accommodate doctors and health staff, reducing pressure on the local rental market and making the region more attractive to healthcare professionals. Additionally, two of the region’s leading fresh food producers will construct new accommodation for agriculture workers, helping to stabilise the workforce.
“These new apartments at Goulburn Valley Health will attract essential healthcare workers to Shepparton, strengthening local services and caring for our community,” member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said. Goulburn Valley Health CEO Matt Sharp echoed the sentiment, emphasising the positive impact on the healthcare sector.
“The new apartments will help us better support our workforce by providing fit-for-purpose accommodation onsite which will attract and retain more health professionals in Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley,” Sharp commented.
Further developments include Seeka Australia’s plan to build a new worker village for 60 workers at its Mundoona site, and the Kalafatis Groups’s construction of 12 new townhouses in Shepparton.
Tourism and hospitality businesses will also benefit from the initiative. The Grollo Group is set to build accommodations at Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Falls Creek, providing modern facilities for over 1,300 workers at some of the state’s largest ski resorts.
You are not authorised to post comments.
Comments will undergo moderation before they get published.