GROWERS are on notice to provide safe seasonal worker accommodation as Swan Hill Council launches a campaign on non-compliance next month.
The compliance campaign, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, aims to assist farmers who provide accommodation for seasonal workers to become compliant and consistent with relevant legislation.
An independent building surveyor and environmental health consultant will assist council to undertake inspections.
Council’s director of development and planning Heather Green said the project was an important first step in increasing the number of safe and secure beds available for seasonal workers across the municipality.
“By supporting local farmers to provide safe accommodation to their workforce, legally, it enables continued growth in our already successful agriculture sector,” Ms Green said.
Ms Green said council asked property owners to come forward if they thought they might be operating without appropriate approvals.
“We will work with property owners, giving them time and encouragement to comply with health, building and planning rules,” she said.
“If property owners or operators do not make changes to comply, we may take legal action, which can include orders to make safety upgrades, a ban on people occupying homes or fines.
“Community members are also encouraged to speak up if they are concerned about potential illegal accommodation in their neighbourhood.”
Ms Green said that council would prioritise inspections based on each properties’ level of risk to the tenants.
“We will consider a number of things when inspecting properties, including those related to overcrowding, disease control, maintenance, fire safety and water supply” she said.
Accommodation compliance has been problematic in the LGA, particularly in Robinvale in the past few years, with Border Force officials cracking down on illegal housing.
In 2019 Border Force officials found up to 17 people in one house, which included five sleeping on mattresses in the garage.
All 23 were suspected of being involved in facilitating illegal foreign workers in Victoria, with one also alleged to be acting as an illegal migration agent across several states.
Last year there were renewed fears of a Childers-type deadly inferno in one of the dozens of allegedly illegal rooming houses in the Robinvale area.
Community leaders fired off a dire warning as it’s estimated at least 100 properties are being illegally used to cram in seasonal workers.
It’s been 20 years since a blaze at Childers’ Palace Backpacker Hostel in Queensland killed 15 people – and a Robinvale-based Swan Hill councillor was “deeply concerned” about such a disaster being repeated in her home town.
“I do worry about that same type of Childers tragedy happening here,” Cr Jade Benham said.
“If a fire breaks out at one of these packed houses, it’d be horrendous.”
Cr Benham said the council was trying to crack down on the problem – “but it’s like playing a game of whack-a-mole”.
“We find that when one is shut down, another one pops back up,” she said.
Cr Benham said it was important for the local community to keep reporting suspected illegal rooming houses.
“The council needs the community to engage and work with us,” she said.
“People can register these rooming houses and we can look at things like power points and other safety issues at the properties.
“We don’t want any lives lost.”
Two online information sessions will be held on Wednesday, November 10 (7pm-8pm) and Wednesday, December 8 (7pm-8pm).
For more information, or to contact council about a specific property, call Dennis Hovenden on 5036 2340 or email dennis.hovenden@swanhill.vic.gov.au.
