Monday 14 October 2024

The Allan Labor Government is supporting regional businesses to attract and retain staff with new homes for thousands of regional Victorian workers and their families.

Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan and Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney recently announced the first round of the $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund – more than 20 projects which will boost affordable housing for workers and their families across Victoria.

• Northeast Health (Wangaratta Hospital) will be building Stage 2 of the NHW Dixon Project to provide 16 units of accommodation for healthcare workers.
• Altiset Development Management Pty Ltd (A Grollo Group Company) is also one of the 20 successful recipients. They will be building their Bogong Village KWA Project, providing 66 units of accommodation for seasonal tourism workers at Mt Bogong. They will also be building worker accommodation at Mt Buller, providing 380 units of accommodation for seasonal tourism workers. 
• Kyabram and District Health, building accommodation for healthcare workers.
• Goulburn Valley Health (Shepparton) will be building Stage 2 of their doctor accommodation project which will provide 18 units of accommodation for healthcare workers.
• Vaughn Street Enterprises in Shepparton will be building 28 units of accommodation to support agricultural workers.
• Seeka Australia Pty Ltd – Karingal will be building 28 units of accommodation to support agricultural workers.

• Murrindindi Shire Council will be carrying out their Eildon Worker Accommodation project to provide 33 bedrooms of accommodation for various workers.

• Rural Northwest Health in Hopetoun will be building 12 units to provide accommodation for healthcare workers.
• Buloke Shire Council will be building 14 units of accommodation for various workers across the Shire.
• Swan Hill Rural City Council in Robinvale will be building 22 units to provide accommodation for various workers.
• MCBG Karadoc Pty Ltd in Irymple will be building 28 units to provide housing for various workers.
• Kerang District Health will be building 8 units to provide accommodation for healthcare workers.

All successful projects across the state are shovel-ready and include co-investment from private businesses, industries or local community groups – unlocking nearly $250 million in combined private and public investment in new regional housing.

Each local housing project will be unique to the area – from self-contained units, worker villages, family dwellings, shared accommodation, and studios – and will be built to meet the skills needs of key sectors such as health, agriculture, education, manufacturing, and tourism.

The Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is part of the Labor Government’s record $45 billion investment in regional and rural Victoria since 2014 – making our regional and rural towns even better places live, work and visit.

The more than 20 projects supported through the first round of the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund will be announced over the coming days. For more information, visit rdv.vic.gov.au/rwaf.

Quote attributable to Member Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“These projects will provide workers and their families with affordable housing right near where they work, helping to attract and retain workers and keep the local economy thriving.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney

“We’re working closely with private sector businesses, industry and community groups to build the homes and accommodation our towns need – making sure regional areas have the skilled workers they need so our communities can prosper.”

“The Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is one of the ways we’re supporting our regional communities to be even better places to live, work and visit.”