A CRUCIAL step towards solving Swan Hill’s housing crisis was taken at a summit last week.
More than 100 business professionals and community members gathered at the Swan Hill Town Hall for the inaugural Beyond Bricks & Mortar summit.
A range of topics were covered, including the shortage of affordable housing, the need for diverse housing options and strategies for sustainable development.
Swan Hill Council chief executive Scott Barber described the event as a “gathering of minds committed to finding tangible solutions to our community’s housing challenges”.
“While everyone is aware of the housing challenge we all face, it takes a community to work together and deliver solutions,” Mr Barber said.
“The event was about fostering a collaborative spirit, bringing together diverse perspectives from various sectors to address the multifaceted nature of the housing crisis.”
Participants were able to engage in workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions to gain a better understanding of the issues, while also hearing from key speakers, including award-winning architect and Grand Designs presenter Peter Maddison.
“The collaboration and dedication displayed by everyone involved in the summit represented the shared commitment to addressing the housing needs of our community,” Mr Barber said.
Member for Mildura and former Swan Hill mayor Jade Benham attended the summit.
The Nationals MP believed the State Government, which in late 2020 announced its $5.3 billion Big Housing Build to construct 12,000 new homes, needed to do more to address these issues.
“Having firsthand experience in the facilitation of the new build in Robinvale, seeing 13 new dwellings for affordable housing being built by Haven Home Safe, it shows the private sector building more houses than the Big Build,” Ms Benham said.
“The completion of these homes will mean that people currently waiting on placements from the Victorian Housing Register will have a chance to access a long-term safe, secure and affordable home in their local community.”
Mr Barber said the next step in the process was the preparation of an outcomes report that would sum up the key findings, recommendations and proposed strategies from discussions at the summit.
“The aim is to provide a roadmap for addressing the housing shortage, and fostering a more sustainable and inclusive community,” he said.
“An outcome report will serve as a valuable resource for future planning and action, guiding the municipality towards a more robust and resilient housing landscape.”
The report would be presented to the council and the broader community.
“The success of the Swan Hill housing summit reflects the community’s collective determination to address housing challenges head-on,” Mr Barber said.
“Thank you to everyone who contributed and offered to partner with council and each other to tackle this challenge.”
