The Andrews Labor Government is backing more local housing and job opportunities in Portland, with support for a framework that will map out future demand and investment opportunities for the community.
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing today announced support for housing provider DEC Housing to create a business case to determine the town’s future housing needs, with the Labor Government investing $100,000 in the project through the Portland Diversification Fund.
The business case will determine what housing and related infrastructure is needed to support local businesses and industries to grow and will also map out the amount and type of housing needed for the wider community.
Engagement with the local community is underway to enable DEC Housing to develop the business case, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Once complete the organisation will use the business case to help secure private investment to build more housing in Portland.
The project is one of a range of initiatives to address workforce shortages and housing availability in south west Victoria. The Government is investing $78 million from the Big Housing Build to build more homes across the Great South Coast, with 34 new homes complete and 182 new homes are under construction as part of the initiative.
Funding for DEC Housing’s framework is part of the $7.5 million Portland Diversification Fund, which includes $1 million dedicated to support projects that create more housing for local workers.
Geelong-based manufacturer FormFlow was last year granted $800,000 from that funding pool to transform the Portland airport hangar into a housing manufacturing site to produce up to 200 relocatable houses a year.
The Fund is part of a $17.4 million Portland Economic Diversification Plan, designed to support long-term economic growth in the Glenelg Shire through community-led projects.
The Government has made a record investment of more than $41 billion in rural and regional Victoria since 2015, transforming and boosting local economics and generating jobs growth.
The new $1 billion Regional Housing Fund will deliver more than 1,300 homes across regional Victoria to increase the supply of housing across regional Victoria.
To provide even more new housing options for regional communities, the new $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund will support regions where key workers are struggling to find affordable places to live.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing
“We know that housing is key to helping more local businesses thrive in the Great South Coast and we’re making sure people have more choice when it comes to housing.”
“We’re delivering more homes where they’re needed most and attracting more workers to Portland to ensure the area is strong now and into the future.”
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora
“There is no more important issue right now than housing and we’re making sure the Portland community have more choice and housing opportunity for the future.”
