Will the new home plan announced by the state government solve the South East’s dire housing crisis?

As part of the Country Cabinet’s recent visit to the South East, the state government announced a new 60-home plan for the Tatiara District, with the hope of attracting workers to regional towns.

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the plan in Bordertown, with the new homes to be built on the 5.8-hectare site in the town’s west, aimed at addressing local employers’ growing need to accommodate regional staff while delivering an increase in residential supply.

Called the government-council initiative to tackle the regional housing crisis, the project will cost the state government $2.7million.

“We are working with the council to progress development within the first stage as quickly and efficiently as possible to help address the regional housing shortfall, providing workforce accommodation that’s badly needed,” Mr Malinauskas said while officiating at the launch event.

“We are responding to local businesses crying out for more housing so they can attract employees to live in the region long-term and support its economic growth.

“The government is partnering with Tatiara District Council on Stage 1 of the development, which will include five homes for key government workers and an opportunity for local businesses impacted by housing shortages to contract a further 10 homes with the same builder.”

He said this would allow all parties to reduce costs under a single, simplified delivery model.

“Bordertown, the largest town in the Tatiara district, has near-zero rental vacancy rates amid a long-term underinvestment in housing, hurting the region’s economic growth and its ability to attract and retain the workforce required to provide essential services.

“The project’s five homes to be constructed for key government workers, such as teachers, police officers, and health care workers, will help combat the skills shortage and expand on the government’s Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme.”

He said the scheme, run by Renewal SA’s Office for Regional Housing, will now deliver 35 homes across six regions, including Tatiara, up from the 30 homes committed in the South East, Riverland, Mid North, Far West Coast, and Copper Coast as part of a pilot program.

Independent member of MacKillop, Nick McBride, who was part of the event at Bordertown, said a lack of affordable and government housing continues to be a huge issue, especially in towns like Bordertown, Keith, and Naracoorte, where unemployment is so low.

“As the local member, I have been advocating for funding that would see more housing delivered in my electorate,” Mr McBride said.

“I have been working with the Office for Regional Housing to highlight towns that are in desperate need of housing solutions.

“I am pleased that the state government is investing in what is the cornerstone to ensuring towns can grow and prosper.

“A lack of housing has made it difficult for industry to employ workers. The region needs more housing – this is a welcome first step to seeing that delivered,” Mr McBride said.

Minister for Housing Nick Champion said the ministry established Regional Housing to tackle chronic regional housing shortages, and this project shows how it can make a real difference for local communities.

“We are delivering a much-needed opportunity for the private sector to boost their supply while giving our teachers, police officers, and health care workers somewhere to live,” Mr Champion said.

“I commend the council for initiating the opportunity and the work undertaken to identify the needs of both sectors as we roll out our pipeline of housing initiatives across the state.”

Tatiara District Council Mayor Liz Goossens said housing has been an issue for the district for many years.

“Our economy and population have grown, but housing simply has not kept pace with that growth,” Ms Goossens said.

“Our unemployment rate sits just above 1 percent, which means our businesses must recruit staff from outside the district, but with a rental vacancy rate of 0.3 per cent, there is simply nowhere for them to live.

“Recognising what a barrier to our continued economic growth the lack of housing is, the council resolved to develop residential land in Bordertown and Keith.

“This partnership helps us go one step further, with a simple process to build homes at a lower cost.”

Civil works on the housing project are anticipated to start mid-to-late next year, with construction of homes commencing in 2025.

The Tatiara District Council will manage the delivery of internal roads within the development.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.