Over the weekend, the federal opposition announced if it won at the next election it would legislate a $5 billion fund to build critical enabling infrastructure, to open up new land for housing.
“The cost of housing is causing significant stress on households in Indi, whether they are paying their mortgage or rent — and part of the reason for that is that we don’t have enough housing,” Dr Haines said.
“A major barrier to opening up new land for housing is the enabling infrastructure and amenities, sewerage and water connections, roads and footpaths, electricity poles. It’s not shiny, but it’s critically important.
“That’s why before the last election in 2022 I said we needed a dedicated regional housing infrastructure fund for exactly these things. Now, more than two years later, it’s great to hear the coalition is finally listening.”
Dr Haines took her case for dedicated regional infrastructure spending to the prime minister in 2023, presenting a proposal for a dedicated Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund to invest in critical enabling infrastructure for regional housing developments.
The following week the government announced its new Housing Support Program, which will fund such infrastructure.
Almost $1.5 million has already been delivered for two projects in Indi from that fund, in Wodonga and Alexandra.
“It is clear that as an independent, listening to the needs in our region here in Indi and coming up with solutions, that we can influence the policies of the major parties and the actions of government,” Dr Haines said.
“While some might be late to the party, so to speak, I’m pleased we are starting to see shared focus on addressing the enabling-infrastructure barrier to housing supply.”
