The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) and Councils of the Great South Coast and Barwon regions have released an action plan to address housing supply and affordability for essential workers across Victoria’s south coast.
The VPA said the project, Key and Essential Worker Housing Supply Action Plan, proposed a combination of Federal, State and Local Government levers, ranging from advocacy to planning mechanisms and direct investment, to help ease the shortage of essential workers.
“Attracting and retaining key and essential workers has become an increasing challenge across the Great South Coast and Barwon regions of Victoria over the past 10 years,” the VPA said.
“There are currently more than 4,000 key worker jobs being imported from outside the region, due in large part to a shortage of appropriate or affordable housing within the region for these workers and their families,” it said.
The VPA said the Action Plan was the result of a combined effort with the Glenelg, Moyne, Surf Coast, Corangamite, Colac Otway and Southern Grampians Shires, funded by the State’s Streamlining for Growth Program.
“This project is a positive example of working collaboratively across Government to address this important issue and identify where structure planning for new communities should be developed to provide affordable housing to meet demand,” it said.
The VPA’s 58-page Action Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
