Local businesses will have more worker accommodation in south-west Victoria to support key industries like hospitality, construction and agriculture, thanks to an investment from the Victorian Government.
Representing Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing, Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today toured the Koroit Caravan Park to view works underway on the installation of five new cabins to house workers.
The studio-style units are made possible by a $465,000 grant from the Regional Recovery Fund and will provide another solution to address worker housing shortages in regional Victoria. The project will benefit local businesses looking to fill roles which often require skilled labourers to relocate.
Once complete, the units will provide affordable rental accommodation for workers in the region’s construction, agriculture and hospitality industries. All five worker cabins have already been delivered to the site and will be installed by the end of August.
Owned by Moyne Shire Council, the Koroit Caravan Park also offers caravan and camping facilities for holidaymakers. The accommodation units will be rented out to visitors when not used by workers.
The new worker cabins are one of a range of initiatives the Government is investing in to address workforce shortages and housing availability as part of the Regional Workforce Pilots.
Work is underway to prepare land for residential housing in Timboon and in Simpson thanks to $2 million in funding as part of the Pilots, and once complete will enable up to 140 new homes to be built.
The Pilots and regional housing initiatives build on the 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 Regional Recovery Fund is designed to kickstart regional recovery by investing in locally identified projects that address each region’s unique and immediate socio-economic challenges, with a strong focus on creating jobs.
The Fund builds on the Victorian Government’s almost $36 billion record investment across regional and rural Victoria since 2015. For more information, visit http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/rrf
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
“We know that workforce and housing shortages are a real issue in the Great South Coast. Initiatives like this provide a real solution to attracting and retaining key workers to this beautiful part of our region.”
“This project will help address worker shortages across Koroit by supporting industries including agriculture, hospitality and construction.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing
“The Government is continuing to support our regional recovery, including through this project, which will deliver more housing for the vital workers who are helping our regions to grow and thrive.”