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Gippsland councils welcome federal coalition's $5B housing infrastructure commitment

Peri Urban Councils of Victoria welcomed the Federal Coalition's $5 billion commitment for housing infrastructure, aiming to unlock 500,000 homes and support rapid growth in peri-urban communities.

By news@gippsland - 25th October 2024 - Back to News

Peri Urban Councils of Victoria (PUCV) this week welcomed a pre-election commitment from the Federal Liberal-National Coalition to allocate $5 billion to housing enabling infrastructure. The program is aimed at unlocking 500,000 new homes across the country and will include direct funding for local government to get land development ready in communities like those in Victoria's peri urban areas.

Pictured in Drouin at the weekend (from left to right) are Liberal candidate for Monash Mary Aldred, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness Michael Sukkar, Baw Baw Shire Council CEO Mark Dupe, and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie announcing the $5 Billion Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund. As part of this fund, an election commitment of $4.2 million for a roundabout at the Weebar-Main South Road intersection in Drouin was also made

Peri-Urban growth surge

PUCV spokesperson and CEO of Baw Baw Shire, Mark Dupe said urban communities across the country were growing at a rapid rate due to their proximity to metropolitan centres, relaxed lifestyle and relative affordability. "We have always known our communities are great places to live, but as the trend for remote work and higher housing prices in metropolitan areas has increased local demand, the secret is out," Mr Dupe said.

A recent report from the Regional Australia Institute, Regional Movers Index (RMI) March 2024 quarter, identified Victoria's peri urban local government areas among the fastest growing regions in Australia:

• Moorabool Shire Council was the fourth most popular destination in Australia for people moving from capital cities
• Baw Baw Shire Council ranked 3rd in Victoria and 10th in the nation
• Bass Coast Shire Council ranked 5th in Victoria and 18th in the nation
• Golden Plains Shire Council ranked 5th in people moving from other regions
• Surf Coast Shire Council was ranked as the 5th top hotspot for growth in the nation

"Peri urban councils struggle to meet the cost of getting land development ready in our communities due to smaller rate bases, limited borrowing capacity and more responsibility for essential infrastructure, challenges that metropolitan councils do not have," Mr Dupe said.

Future housing needs

Mr Dupe added, "Peri Urban Council Victoria members are expected to need an additional 70,000 houses in the next 15 years which will become homes for about 180,000 new residents. This means growing our current communities by as much as 50 percent."

"Peri Urban Councils Victoria members have forecasted an immediate need of $230 million for essential infrastructure like drainage, utilities and roads to enable 40,000 new homes to be built," Mr Dupe said.

"We commend the Coalition for making this commitment to address the issue of housing supply in our communities and look forward to working with them on this policy, if they are to take government at the next election," Mr Dupe concluded.

Pictures from Peri Urban Councils of Victoria website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com