Parliamentary inquiry examines progress on Regional Housing Fund

AS THE parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s cancellation of the Commonwealth Games works towards delivering its final report, it has turned its attention to the housing projects promised as part of the $1 billion Regional Housing Fund.

This fund, announced in July 2023, pledged to deliver more than 1,300 new homes and affordable homes across the state “to ensure regional Victoria still receives all the benefits that would have been facilities by the Games”.

At a hearing held on Friday last week, the committee heard from Minister for Housing and Building Ingrid Shing and representatives from Homes Victoria about the progress that has been made on these 1,300 homes.

“It’s important that we get a clear picture of the progress of housing projects to date and whether the timelines and cost estimates for achieving the housing build are on track,” inquiry chair David Limbrick said.

“It’s also important that these projects are completed properly and with fit-for-purpose housing.”

In October last year, the state government announced the regions where the first 1,000 homes will be located, with 238 homes allocated to the Barwon region.

This region spans the City of Greater Geelong, the Borough of Queenscliffe and both the Colac Otway and Surf Coast shires.

Speaking at the hearing on Friday, Ms Shing said the state government was aiming to deliver as many homes as possible across Victoria, not only as part of the Regional Housing Fund, but under several other funding allocations, such as the Social Growth Housing Fund.

She confirmed these homes were to be delivered by June 2028, however more information is still to come on how they will be spread across the Barwon region.

A partnership with Development Victoria will see at least 72 new social and affordable homes delivered in Waurn Ponds, and a further 32 in Bendigo, at the sites formerly slated for Commonwealth Games athletes’ villages.

Ms Shing said work was under way on these dwellings.

“This has involved meetings with councils, Traditional Owner groups and ongoing briefings and overviews of draft master plans and finalisation of the Waurn Ponds and Bendigo master plans and lodgement.”

This work, she said, was anticipated to be completed in the first half of this year.

The inquiry has already tabled two interim reports, and a final report is due in April.