More worker housing heading to Mildura

07/09/2023

Hundreds of workers in Mildura will soon be able to access more accommodation with the Mildura Palms Seasonal Worker Facility underway thanks to support from the Victorian Government.

Works for installing 40 cabins that can each house up to eight seasonal workers are progressing. The project is backed by a $1 million investment through the Seasonal Workforce Accommodation Program to house up to 320 seasonal workers.

Construction business Atane is assembling and installing the cabins on site with 11 cabins completed so far and an additional 29 to be installed by next year.

Up to 20 full-time jobs are expected to be created during construction with six workers to be employed at Mildura Palms in management and maintenance roles once complete.

The cabins include a kitchenette and ensuite while workers will have access to cooking, dining and laundry facilities, plus an upgraded swimming pool. Seasonal workers will also be provided with transport to and from their workplace in the Mildura area, with 20 vans to be used for transportation.

Workers in regional Victoria have reached a record high of 864,000 according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Mildura plays a key part in regional Victoria’s horticulture industry and is a key employer due to its significant grape production.
The Government is investing in a range of housing projects in the Mallee designed to create more jobs and attract more workers to the region. This includes an accommodation site with 56 beds as part of the Ramsay Court Workers accommodation facility.

The Government is also supporting the preparation of land for future development in Sea Lake, along with the construction of 4 homes in Robinvale. The key housing projects are helping maintain and attract workers in the region in industries including health and hospitality.

These investments are on top of the $48 million from the Big Housing Build to build more homes across Mildura, with 26 new homes complete and 73 new homes under construction as part of the initiative.

Commitments to more housing are part of the Government’s investment of more than $41 billion across rural and regional Victoria since 2015.