The Allan Labor Government is supporting regional businesses to attract and retain staff with new homes for thousands of regional Victorian workers and their families.

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP recently announced that George Weston Foods Limited - Don Smallgoods Castlemaine is one of more than 20 projects included in the first round of the $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, which will boost affordable housing for workers and their families across Victoria.

“This project will provide workers and their families with housing right near where they work in
Castlemaine, helping to attract and retain workers and keep our local economy thriving.”

“We’re working closely with private sector businesses, industry and community groups to build the homes and accommodation our towns need – making sure regional areas have the skilled workers they need so our communities can prosper. Ms Edwards said.

“The Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is one of the ways we’re supporting our regional communities to be even better places to live, work and visit.”

All successful projects in the first round across the state are shovel-ready and include co-investment from private businesses, industries or local community groups unlocking nearly $250 million in combined private and public investment in new regional housing.

Each local housing project will be unique to the area – from self-contained units, worker villages, family dwellings, shared accommodation, and studios – and will be built to meet the skills needs of key sectors such as health, agriculture, education, manufacturing, and tourism.

The Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is part of the Labor Government’s record $45 billion investment in regional and rural Victoria since 2014 – making our regional and rural towns even better places live, work and visit.

The more than 20 projects supported through the first round of the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund will be announced soon.

For more information, visit: rdv.vic.gov.au/rwaf