Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Vic Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture, Media Release, 3 November 2021
The Andrews Labor 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.
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 Labor Government’s $5 million Regional Workforce Pilots, which have been developed to address a shortage of housing across parts of regional and rural Victoria and boost employment.
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 Labor Government is also investing in a range of housing projects in the Mallee designed to create more jobs and attract more workers to the region. This includes a $500,000 investment from the Building Works program to subdivide 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. On top of this, 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.
Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas
“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.”
For more information, visit rdv.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/regional-workforce-pilots.
