General News
24 January, 2025
Housing announcement 'disappoints' council
The Federal Government has announced the outcome of its Housing Support Program, $35.8 million having been allocated to five projects to fast-track housing in regional and metropolitan growth areas.
After Thursday's announcement, Yarriambiack Shire Council expressed its disappointment that none of the four project applications submitted were successful.
“Our council's working tirelessly on funding applications, spending money on consultants to assist with submitting applications to ensure they're of the highest quality, leaving no stone unturned," mayor Kylie Zanker said.
"It's disheartening when we work and try so hard, to be unsuccessful at each turn."
During council's September 2024 meeting, it announced the applications that would be put forward, saying councillors and senior staff were "hopeful" the projects would do well.
Rupanyup's Gibson Street Housing Infrastructure Development was one of the applications, seeking works including water, sewer and power connections, road construction and associated civil works to prepare for eight new residential lots.
The grant request was $594,397.
Hopetoun's old school site was going to be utilised to support future residential development, works proposed to prepare the two hectares of land for 10 residential lots.
The grant request was $1,525,128.
Another project in Anderson Street, Warracknabeal, was to construct essential infrastructure on a 9838sqm site, including roads, footpaths, drainage and utility connections to prepare for the development of 14 independent living units for older residents.
The grant request was $2,886,204.
The final application put forward was for a Murtoa Lakeside sewer and water scheme extension to enable housing development for more than 20 properties near Lake Marma.
The grant request was $1,130,000.
Cr Kylie Zanker said all projects had "strong community support", GWMWater assisting with the Murtoa Lakeside sewer and water scheme application.
“We prepared our applications thoroughly and had master plans for the Hopetoun school site along with a feasibility study and business case to support the application, which had previously been funded by Regional Development Victoria," she said.
"The Gibson Street project is spearheaded by the Rupanyup Future Fund.
"The council contributed by gifting the land and supporting the funding application to facilitate the subdivision's completion."
Council had previously applied, also unsuccessfully, for State Government Regional Worker Accommodation Funding.
"We face a shortage of housing for essential workers in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, farming, police and ambulance services," Cr Zanker said.
"The new hay processing plant under construction will attract more individuals to our shire and, while we welcome this development, we're deeply concerned about where these individuals will reside.
"We're being informed that we will host renewable energy infrastructure and mining.
"If this happens through Federal and State government agendas, where's the commitment and investment into our shire and region?
"Where's the forward planning?
"We lack a public transport system capable of supporting a commuting workforce; therefore, it's imperative to have housing available in our towns immediately.
"It's now essential for the government to take action and engage with us."
Cr Zanker said council welcomed the Coalition's announcement that it would enhance home building across the country, along with a $5 billion investment commitment through a new housing infrastructure program, from which $1.5 billion has been committed to the regions.
"We strongly urge the Coalition to set aside a portion of that funding specifically for rural councils so our projects can be realised," Cr Zanker said.
"We also strongly urge the current government to do the same."
Member for Mallee Anne Webster said she stood with Mallee shires that were in "desperate" need of housing.
“Suburb trends identified three of Victoria’s six regional local government areas that are highest on the rental pain index as being in Mallee – Northern Grampians (second), Swan Hill (fourth) and Yarriambiack (sixth) – while Horsham (18th) and Mildura (19th) saw Mallee over-represented in the 20 worst-performing shires,” Dr Webster said.
“I've written to the Australian National Audit Office to investigate the allocation of funding under this program and whether it was genuinely determined on the basis of merit and need."