RURAL Councils Victoria says it’s pleased the State Government has taken its housing action plan into “serious” consideration after the announcement of a fund to support worker housing in the regions.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Regional Development Minister Gayle Tierney announced the opening of the $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund.
The fund is for workers in key industries where staff are in demand such as agriculture, hospitality and teaching.
Grants of between $150,000 and $5 million will be available to develop projects that support local businesses to retain and attract workers by delivering affordable housing and accommodation, the government announcement said.
Rural Councils Victoria chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown said the announcement matched one of the pillars of the RCV Rural Housing Action Plan, which called for specific government funding to deliver homes for key workers across a range of key industries.
“The announcement follows several productive meetings between RCV and the government,” Cr Brown said.
“RCV has been advocating to state and federal governments for action on rural housing since the RCV committee nominated housing as their number one priority at the beginning of 2023.
“This was followed by a housing survey of all members at the RCV forum in July, to determine the key issues across rural communities and to develop the plan.
“It is pleasing to see that government has taken the RCV Rural Housing Action Plan into serious consideration and has begun delivering on the asks in the document.
“Rural Councils Victoria is looking forward to working closely with the government to see projects delivered in rural Victorian communities.”
Ms Allan said: “Regional Victorians have told us that more places to live, work and stay across the state is what really matters to them – and that’s exactly what we will deliver.
“The investment will mean Victorians can live close to where they work, towns and communities can build the local projects that matter to them, and that our fantastic regional towns are attracting the visitors they need to keep their local economies booming.”
An expression of interest process for the fund will run until February 25.
