A statewide survey of mayors, CEOs, councillors, and council staff has identified the biggest blockers to solving the rural housing crisis and building new homes across rural Victoria.
The RCV Rural Housing Survey found that the biggest blockers to housing in rural Victoria are:
Land release and development
Nearly half (48.6%) of respondents nominated land release as one of the main blockers to more housing.
Making land ready for development was also a high-ranking blocker, with 39.2% of respondents nominating this issue. This makes land-related blockers highly significant with 85.8% of respondents nominating at least one of these issues.
Skilled workers
The lack of skilled people also featured significantly as a block to getting more homes built and addressing housing issues.
Lack of planning staff and availability of skilled workers, builders, trades etc. was nominated by 47.3% of respondents as a key blocker.
Policy and regulation
State policy and regulation and the planning scheme/policy were also nominated highly among respondents with State policy and regulation at 43.2% and Planning scheme/policy at 35.1%
The survey also explored what the most significant issues in housing are:
Rural Councils Victoria Chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown said:
“The Rural Housing Survey paints a stark picture of what is happening in the rural housing crisis and points to possible solutions.”
“Several councils are already working on their own solutions, but they need help from government to deliver the homes rural communities need.”