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Supporting Workers To Secure Housing In Sea Lake

30 September 2021

The Victorian Government is investing in more housing initiatives in the Mallee to address accommodation shortages and other barriers to attracting workers to the region.

Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas today visited Sea Lake to mark the start of works on a new housing development, supported by $300,000 from the Victorian Government’s Regional Recovery Fund.

The funding will enable Buloke Shire Council to develop the town’s former primary school site into up to eight residential blocks that will be sold to the private sector for housing.

This investment complements the Government’s $5 million Regional Workforce Pilots, which are strategically located across the state to help regional and rural communities attract the workers they need to grow.

Pilot sites have been selected in four regions across the state, including in Robinvale to support coordination between local, state and Commonwealth governments to explore accommodation options.

The Victorian Government is also investing in a range of other housing projects in the Mallee to create more jobs and attract more workers to the region. This includes a $500,000 investment in Swan Hill Worker Housing from the Building Works program, to subdivide land and construct four houses for workers.

In Mildura, an $800,000 investment for the Ramsay Court Worker Accommodation project is supporting the refurbishment of 25 rooms to create purpose-built housing for seasonal workers. On top of this, the Regional Recovery Fund is supporting the development of the Loddon Mallee Housing Revitalisation Strategy.

The Regional Workforce Pilots and other regional housing initiatives build on the Labor Government’s historic $5.3 billion Big Housing Build to construct more than 12,000 new secure and modern, social and affordable homes throughout the state – with $1.25 billion being invested in regional Victoria.

The initiatives are part of the Government’s almost $30 billion investment in regional and rural Victoria since 2015, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing to the lowest regional unemployment rate in the nation.

For more information about these initiatives visit rdv.vic.gov.au.External Link

Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas

“We understand that housing related workforce shortages are a real issue in our regional towns right now – that’s why we’re investing in projects to address these issues and support regional businesses across the state.”

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp

“This project has been developed to tackle housing shortages and other barriers to workforce attraction, which can hold back economic growth and recovery.”

Quote attributable to Buloke Shire Council Mayor Daryl Warren

“Suitable housing stock is a key issue for Buloke Shire residents and council heard this loud and clear in working with the community to devise our Council Plan.”

Reviewed 30 September 2021

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