Donald 2000 has taken a big step towards reducing the shortage of housing in the town.  

By joining forces with Wimmera Southern Mallee Development’s housing group, Wimmera Housing Innovations Pty Ltd. 

A local version of this initiative has been formed, called Donald Housing Innovations Pty Ltd (DHIP).

It is widely agreed that Donald has insufficient affordable housing, especially for rent, and this is limiting the town in taking advantage of job and population growth opportunities.

The new company will ask the local community and local employers to invest in housing as a way to overcome a lack of property developers undertaking housing projects in small rural towns. Similar community led housing companies have been established in Murtoa and Minyip.

Donald is expected to have annual demand for around 6 new housing units over the next 10 years, generated by reducing household size and demand from key workers needing to locate to the town. This estimate could be higher with demand from the nearby mineral sands mining development which could increase housing demand in Donald and other nearby towns. 

The first development planned by DHIP involves 3 new houses to be constructed on serviced vacant land near the town centre. 

Wimmera Housing Innovations has submitted an expression of interest for support from the State Government’s “Regional Worker Accommodation Fund”. If successful, this could contribute up to 30 per cent of the costs of the new company’s first project.

DHIP will soon be issuing an invitation for people and businesses to invest in its first project. Enquiries can be directed to John McConville on 0427 971 738.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 9 April 2024.