RCV welcomes $1bn housing commitment

Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed the state government’s commitment to a $1 billion fund to build 1300 new social and affordable housing homes in rural and regional Victoria. 

Rural Councils Victoria Chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown said: 

“In our frequent meetings, RCV has consistently told the government that housing is our number one priority, and it was gratifying to hear the government acknowledge that today. 

“The 1300 new homes will go some way towards meeting the demand for new homes in rural Victoria.  

“We will advocate strongly to ensure that rural Victoria gets its fair share of those homes. 

“The Rural Victoria Housing Blueprint, commissioned by RCV and delivered by SGS Economics & Planning, identified the need for about 5800 new starts per year over 15 years to deliver the 87,400 new homes rural Victorian communities will need. 

“There is – as RCV has long advocated and the government acknowledges – an urgent need for new homes. 

“We look forward to working with the government to ensure the design of these funding streams means they are accessible by rural councils and rural communities to deliver the homes rural Victorians need. 

“We understand the fiscal constraints that prompted the decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games and welcome the announcement that the benefits that the games would have provided will still be delivered and flow to areas beyond games venues. 

“As well as new homes, RCV welcomes investment in rural and regional tourism and events, sport, getting more local families playing sport, helping people with a disability play sport and the promise of 3000 new jobs around the state. 

“RCV will advocate strongly to ensure rural Victorians get their fair share of those facilities and jobs.” 

The Premier announced: 

• A $2 billion package to ensure regional Victoria still receives all the benefits that would have been facilitated by the Games, including: 
• A $1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across regional Victoria. 
• A $150 million Regional Tourism and Events Fund 
• Deliver every one of the permanent new and upgraded sporting infrastructure projects planned as part of the Games 
• A new $60 million Regional Community Sport Development Fund 
• $40 million for an All Abilities Sport Fund to remove the barriers of entry for people with a disability to get involved in sports through grants, scholarships and mentoring. 

Further detail of the $2 billion rural and regional package will be revealed after consultation with sporting codes, councils, tourism bodies and the community, the government said. 

Media enquiries: Seamus Bradley | [email protected]  | 0410 256 902 

About Rural Councils Victoria:  

Rural Councils Victoria represents rural communities across the state’s 38 rural local government areas. RCV supports and promotes sustainable, liveable, prosperous rural communities. Visit: ruralcouncilsvictoria.org.au