Northern Grampians Shire Council yesterday welcomed Victorian Government Parliamentary Secretary, Danielle Green, to officiate at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the region’s Sloane Street Stawell development.
The State Government provided $500,000 in funding towards essential infrastructure for Sloane Street to enable housing developments on what has now been coined a “growth corridor” for Stawell.
Council has matched the State Government investment and put $500,000 towards the corridor development. The project aims to leverage private investment in town and address a severe housing shortage within the shire.
The funding supplies:
- Water and sewer infrastructure;
- Footpaths and a pedestrian crossing;
- Street lighting;
- Drainage, road and kerb works;
- Electrical service connection;
- A pump station.
Council anticipates the infrastructure could facilitate the building of over 100 dwellings and $49 million in economic activity generated from residential development and demand for goods and services within the first five years of the corridor opening.
“Working with the Northern Grampians Shire Council this project has been developed to tackle housing shortages and other barriers to regional workforce attraction, which is threatening economic recovery and growth,” said Ms Green.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor, Tony Driscoll said the project was momentous for the shire.
“Thank you to the Victorian State Government for their generous assistance financing this much needed infrastructure,” he said.
“It is well known across the Wimmera that housing of any kind is in extremely short supply and our council along with many others in the region is working really hard to address this issue.
“Our economy is recovering rapidly, and we have so many work opportunities in the shire but first and foremost we have to ensure our residents have ample and suitable living options.”
