The Victorian government is securing more accommodation for seasonal workers in Mildura, with the completion of a new facility to help tackle workforce shortages in the Mallee.
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas today opened the newly refurbished Ramsay Court Worker Accommodation facility in Mildura, supported by $800,000 from the Labor Government’s Building Works package.
“We understand that access to housing for seasonal workers is a big issue for many communities, including here in Mildura – that’s why we are investing in important projects to provide solutions and boost employment,” Minister Thomas said.
The former health service facility has been transformed into 25 fit-for-purpose accommodation rooms. The site includes a new communal kitchen, a communal laundry and outdoor area which will provide space for up to 56 workers.
Not-for-profit group Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council will manage the facility, as well as support workers from cultural and linguistically diverse communities to stay informed and connected.
This investment complements the state government’s $5 million Regional Workforce Pilots. The pilot program has been developed to address a shortage of housing across parts of rural and regional Victoria and boost employment.
The pilot sites are being developed in four regions across the state, including in Robinvale to support coordination between local, Victorian and Commonwealth governments to explore accommodation options in the region.
The state government is also investing in a range of housing projects in the Mallee to attract more workers and create more jobs in the region. This includes a $500,000 investment from the Building Works program to subdivide the land and construct four houses for workers in Robinvale.
In Sea Lake, a $300,000 investment through the Regional Recovery Fund is supporting the transformation of a primary school site into prime development land. In addition, the Regional Recovery Fund is supporting the development of the Loddon Mallee Housing Revitalisation Strategy.
These investments build on the Government’s unprecedented $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 investments are part of the Labor Government’s almost $30 billion investment in regional and rural Victoria since 2015.
For more information, visit rdv.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/regional-workforce-pilots.
