Premiers turn sod on housing project

“TEACHERS, nurses, doctors and police officers are the workers that provide the backbone of our regional towns.”

That was the message from South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas as he turned the first sod on a new 5.8-hectare residential housing estate in Bordertown, including new homes for essential workers.

The development, a partnership between the Malinauskas Labor Government through Renewal SA and the Tatiara District Council, will deliver about 55 new homes on Ramsay Terrace in Bordertown.

The first homes will accommodate teachers, healthcare professionals and law enforcement officers.

“They deserve a place to call home in the communities that they serve,” the Premier said. “This development will make that possible, while providing a jobs boost for tradies in Bordertown.

“Our partnership with the Tatiara District Council demonstrates a shared commitment to boosting housing supply in Bordertown.”

The South Australia Government has invested a total of $2.7 million for the five homes and early subdivision and civil works to help de-risk the development and respond to the growing need for housing in the area.

South Australian Housing Minister Nick Champion said creating more housing supply in regional South Australia was a key priority for the government.

“This investment in homes in Bordertown demonstrates this,” Minister Champion said. “The team at Renewal SA will continue to work on servicing even more towns and cities through this important scheme. I commend the Tatiara District Council for their leadership and drive in delivering this project.”

Tatiara District Council also secured $779,318 through Renewal SA’s Regional Housing Initiatives Program for the second stage of the development, following a 2024 application process targeting housing projects in economic growth areas that require assistance to get started.

Tatiara Mayor Liz Goossens said Bordertown businesses have faced housing constraints for years, limiting their ability to grow.

“With demand for services continuing to rise, this development is an important step toward supporting local businesses and attracting the workers our community need,” Mayor Goossens said. “Our local economy is ready to expand, but the lack of available housing has made it difficult for employers to bring new staff into the region.

“This project will help ease that pressure and strengthen Bordertown’s long-term sustainability. There is clear demand for more services across Bordertown and the surrounding Tatiara district.

“By increasing housing supply, this development will help remove one of the biggest barriers facing businesses and support continued growth in our community.”

Tatiara Business Association chair Daniel Staude also welcomed the kickstarting of the essential project.

“Businesses have been hamstrung by a lack of available housing in the area for many years,” he said. “There is strong demand for additional services in Bordertown and the surrounding community, and businesses are ready to expand to meet that need, but attracting the staff required has been extremely difficult due to the very tight housing market.

“We’re pleased to see this development moving ahead and helping to alleviate some of these challenges.”

These homes are an extension of the Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme, an initiative of the State Government’s Office for Regional Housing that is currently finalising the delivery of the final six homes of 30 key worker homes across regional South Australia.

As part of the investment, Renewal SA will retain five allotments within the second stage of the Ramsay Terrace development, with potential for more essential worker housing, community housing or similar.

Civil works, to be undertaken by local firm Tatiara Trench Diggers, will be followed by a three-stage sales and construction program surrounding a central reserve and wetlands.

Sales for private allotments in the first stage are expected to open this year, with block sizes ranging from 450 to 750 square metres.

Later stages will include blocks up to 1000 square metres, providing options for larger homes.

The project marks a significant step toward addressing housing shortages in the region and supporting economic growth in Bordertown.