The Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has again outlined the dire state of regional housing and affordability on Spring St.
Speaking from Parliament Ms Cleeland said the marketing efforts of the Andrews Government were not contributing to better outcomes for regional communities and families.
“While the Big Housing Build has been well marketed, $2.8 billion has only got us 74 new dwellings in our state,” Ms Cleeland said.
“New figures released by the Victorian Housing Register confirm 67,120 Victorians were on the public housing waitlist as of December 2022, an increase of 3376 people over the previous 12 months.”
Ms Cleeland said shortages in public housing in the region were having a significant impact when accompanied with the current cost of living crisis.
“Right across the region in the Euroa electorate we have waitlists for housing completely out of control.
“There are hundreds of people urgently waiting for housing in towns right across our region, including Seymour, Benalla and the Broadford district.
“I am regularly contacted by people who are in desperate need of housing, and they are continually being told there is simply no supply to house them.”
Ms Cleeland outlined measures that needed to be taken to improve outcomes for regional Victoria.
“Recently I had the member for Kew, Jess Wilson, visit my electorate to meet with key stakeholders across the housing industry, including real estate agents, builders, developers and contractors, to discuss the hurdles facing increasing housing supply,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We need to revamp the planning system and ensure obstructive councils speed up approval processes and allow people to buy homes close to where they have grown up.
“I hope this is something the government is conducting serious work with and engaging with all relevant stakeholders on to make sure solutions are not just focused on pressing issues in our suburbs but are developed with our regions in mind.
With strong economic headwinds Ms Cleeland reiterated the importance of home ownership for locals.
“Prospective regional homeowners are being hit with a double whammy of increased prices and exponentially rising interest rates,” Ms Cleeland said.
“I want locals to be able to grow up, raise their family and own a home in their own community without having to save for decades.”
