Social housing in the Mitchell Shire is set to receive a guaranteed minimum investment of $25 million, as part of the State Government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.
A quarter of the spend, $1.25 billion, is earmarked for regional Victoria as part of the project, which is estimated to build more than 12,000 new homes and support 10,000 jobs per year over the next four years across the state.
Mitchell Shire has been identified as one of 21 priority areas across Victoria with expressions of interest already being sought from the housing and building sectors.
The government estimates the budget package will boost the state’s social housing supply by 10 per cent in four years.
The investment is estimated to deliver 9300 new social housing homes across the state – including replacing 1100 old public housing units – to help Aboriginal Victorians, pensioners, Victorians with disability, family violence victims and single parent families find their feet.
Of these new homes, 2000 will be for Victorians living with mental illness, while a further 2900 new affordable and low-cost homes will be built to help low-to-moderate income earners live closer to where they work and provide options for private rental.
The new homes will meet seven-start energy efficiency standards in order to make them more comfortable in cold winters and hot summers and save money on power bills.
The investment is estimated to generate $6.7 billion in economic activity and support a peak of more than 18,000 jobs, with 10 per cent of work to be done by apprentices, cadets and trainees.
Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green said everyone deserved a safe and secure place to call home.
“This profound investment will make the world of difference to people in our community who need the stability and safety to get ahead and thrive,” she said.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell called on the State Government to ensure Seymour received a major share of the $25 million investment.
Ms Lovell said she was disappointed to learn 25 per cent of the $5 billion total investment would be spent in regional Victoria, which makes up 37 per cent of the social housing priority waiting list and 34 per cent of the total waiting list, including 443 families in Seymour.
“It’s time for Labor to look beyond the tramlines and it’s time the minister got on with the job of providing homes for the growing number of vulnerable families in regional Victoria,” she said.
BeyondHousing chief executive Celia Adams welcomed the government’s investment, describing it as ‘fantastic news’.
“We are ready to be part of real growth, with community housing responsible for 800 homes as part of the $5.3 billion package for metropolitan and regional areas,” she said.
“This historic level of state investment in social housing will deliver the housing that is urgently needed for people without a home across our catchment, as well as delivering thousands of jobs across Victoria.
“We particularly celebrate the allocation of 25 per cent of funding to regional and rural areas of Victoria, with Shepparton and Seymour among the 21 local government areas across Victoria identified as a priority.”
