The Victorian Government is boosting drought support for farmers and communities – expanding programs that connect Victorian farmers to essential services they need to stay resilient and overcome drought conditions.

At a recent Drought Response Taskforce meeting, Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced an extension of key drought programs, bringing the government’s Drought Support Package to more than $146.5 million.

Farmers from across the state will have access to a second Farm Advisory Service one-on-one consultation with a technical specialist. Community wellbeing support will continue with a new round of funding for the Look Over the Farm Gate grants program opening in February 2026, administered by the National Centre for Farmer Health.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) wellbeing counsellor in the south-west will be extended until 31 December 2026, offering free confidential wellbeing support alongside financial and business counselling – helping farmers stay strong and plan for the future.

Across Victoria, more than 100 Look Over the Farm Gate events have brought communities together, engaging around 13,000 people. So far, more than 700 farmers have participated in consultations through the Farm Advisory Service, and RFCS wellbeing counsellors have supported more than 100 farming businesses.

The state government is giving Victorian libraries a major funding boost, with the latest round of the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program set to invest in 18 libraries across the state.

Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos and Member for Glen Waverley John Mullahy have visited Glen Waverley Library to announce the recipients of a combined $4 million in funding as part of the 2025-26 round, to help deliver high quality library infrastructure projects to support the changing needs of Victorian communities.

Victorian libraries are about so much more than just books – they are community hubs designed to foster lifelong learning, and offer communities free access to information, digital tools, literacy and skill building programs that create connections and strengthen communities.

The latest round of the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program includes:

• One million dollars to go towards building the new Glen Waverley Library as part of the Glen Waverley Civic Precinct.
• Kew Library will receive $550,000 towards its redevelopment, with upgrades to create a more diverse and welcoming space for intergenerational learning and cultural participation.
• Mansfield Library will receive $242,000 to fund a fit-for-purpose library van that will visit remote communities across the shire and provide library services to strengthen communities and boost access to literature.
• Portland Library will receive $41,000 towards the installation of two meeting pods to provide private spaces for remote workers, students, or those with telehealth or online appointments to connect, work and access online services in a comfortable, secure environment.
• Deans Marsh Library will receive $24,500 to establish a self-service library locker to support better community access to library services by providing a more convenient way to borrow and return books.

The Living Libraries Infrastructure Program supports initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to local areas, and increase access to learning, participation and engagement with community libraries.

For more information on the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/grants/living-libraries-infrastructure-program.

Training pathways for pharmacists are being expanded – so more Victorians can access care, easier and closer to home.

A new postgraduate training pathway will be offered by Monash University, ensuring more pharmacists can participate in the Chemist Care Now program.

Formerly known as the Community Pharmacist Program, more than 800 pharmacies already take part in Chemist Care Now – and as the program continues to grow, the government is backing the workforce with more options to upskill.

The program allows pharmacists to provide treatment for common health conditions without needing a prescription including uncomplicated urinary tract infections, care for some skin conditions such as shingles, travel vaccines and other vaccines such as hepatitis A and B as well as the resupply of the contraceptive pill.

The program has already supported more than 64,000 Victorians at hundreds of chemists across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Pharmacists who complete Monash University’s Graduate Certificate of Pharmacist Prescribing or other accredited postgraduate courses are eligible to join the Chemist Care Now program.  

Enrolments are now open for this course, which is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council – the national body responsible for accrediting all professional pharmacy education programs in Australia

This course joins a number of graduate certificate courses that have full or conditional accreditation from the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), including the courses developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and other training organisations.

Module-based training is still available for pharmacists wanting to quickly upskill in conditions and treatments in the Chemist Care Now program without completing a postgraduate course.

The state government is celebrating the remarkable achievements of women in local government today at the inaugural Mary Rogers Awards ceremony, shining a spotlight on their contributions to the sector in Victoria.

Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos joined award nominees in Queens Hall at Parliament House to celebrate women in leadership, advance gender equality in local government and congratulate recipients of the Mary Rogers Awards, are named after Victoria’s first woman councillor, Mary Rogers.

Kylie Spears from Maroondah City Council received the Mary Rogers Award for outstanding contributions as a civic leader, having demonstrated a commitment to equality and building upon the legacy of Mary Rogers by strengthening community wellbeing and sustainability, as well as mentoring emerging women leaders.

Brimbank City Council’s first term councillor Katharine Nikolic received the Emerging Women Leader Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership, for her work empowering young people to shape local government decision making through youth led projects.

Monash City Council received the Gender Equality Council Champion Award in recognition of its support for women’s participation in local government and longstanding commitment to achieving gender equality through initiatives such as its Gender Equity Advisory Committee.

The Mary Rogers Awards were launched earlier this year and form part of a $20,000 government funding package for the Victorian Local Governance Association, to support their work acknowledging and raising the profile of women in the sector and highlighting the importance of gender equality in local decision making.

The funding package will also support the Victorian Local Governance Association to conduct a series of roundtables on gender equality in the sector to help to lift women’s representation and support diversity and achieve the goal of women making up half of all elected councillors and mayors by 2028.

For more information on the Mary Rogers Awards, visit vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/mary-rogers-awards

More Victorian families are getting a place to call home right across Ballarat thanks to the state government’s investment in social and affordable housing.

Minister for Housing and Building Harriet Shing has visited Leawarra Crescent in Delacombe where construction has kicked off on 181 brand new homes, before attending the 2025 Victorian Homelessness Conference in Ballarat.

The Delacombe redevelopment will deliver 117 social and 64 affordable homes, along with new streets and upgraded open spaces designed to meet community needs.

The homes will include townhouses, detached and semi-detached designs which will be completed in stages from 2026 to 2028, with former residents able to come back if they choose.

This project is part of more than $170 million invested across Greater Ballarat, delivering 439 new social and affordable homes, including:

• 15 homes under construction in Canadian
• 5 homes recently completed in Ballarat
• 30 homes nearing completion in Mitchell Park
• 24 homes under construction in Ballarat
• A further 34 homes to be built across Central Highlands

These projects will deliver homes for families on the Victorian Housing Register, including women and children escaping family violence and people experiencing homelessness.

The Inspector-General of Aged Care’s final report of its Review of My Aged Care has exposed significant flaws and inadequacies with the platform designed to be the single-entry point to the aged care system.

The review found that My Aged Care is onerously complex to navigate and not tailored to the needs of older people; it is poorly understood due to a lack of awareness; the delivery model is not fit-for-purpose; and there is a lack of equity for older people from diverse backgrounds or complex needs.

Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) CEO Craig Gear said the findings are not surprising given what we consistently hear from older people, with My Aged Care in need of an overhaul.

“The report’s message is clear – My Aged Care is failing too many older people, who are left unable to navigate and access the support they need, when they need it,” Mr Gear said.

“My Aged Care is meant to be the front door to the aged care system, but many older people are unable to find the front door or to step their way through it.

“Aged care is very complex and older people deserve user friendly and easy to navigate pathways including in person access points.

“OPAN was pleased to participate in the consultations for the review, which included complying with voluntary requests for anonymised data and information from our systems, which demonstrated the challenges faced by older people in navigating My Aged Care. This was the first use of the Inspector-General of Aged Care’s information request powers.

“Australia has an ageing population, and it is crucial that points of access to aged care cater to the needs of all older people, particularly those from diverse backgrounds and in remote locations. Greater investment and commitment are needed to achieve an accessible system.

“OPAN welcomes the report’s recommendations, which includes improving public awareness, reducing system complexity and enabling equitable access to aged care.

“We acknowledge some changes have been made to the My Aged Care website with the commencement of the new Act. Regardless, older people are still reporting difficulties in locating providers on the website as well as the ability to compare pricing.

“Older people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Reforming My Aged Care would be a positive step in achieving that.”

Boost to local healthcare in north-central Victoria with the completion of new accommodation for key workers at Kyabram and District Health Services.

Minister for Regional Development Jacyln Symes has announced formal completion of the project, which will help meet an immediate need for staff accommodation – both one-bedroom units have already been allocated to staff and visiting health professionals, including interstate and overseas recruits.

The project was delivered as part of the state government’s Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, set up to provide accommodation for workers in health, education, agriculture, and other key sectors. Across Victoria, the fund is helping employers like Kyabram and District Health Services attract and retain key staff.

Delivered by local builders Timberline Constructions, the new units are an investment in the future of the regional health service that has been delivering healthcare to the local community for more than 90 years.

Dozens of similar projects are underway across Victoria, including at other regional hubs in Shepparton, Kerang and Benalla.

The Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is a major investment in the liveability and prosperity of Victoria’s regions, which comprise about a quarter of the state’s economic output, population, small businesses and employment.

No one should go hungry, so there is more support for food relief across Victoria.

Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence has visited Alex Makes Meals in Preston to announce 133 organisations will share in $9 million through the Community Food Relief Program, doubling the program’s funding this year to deliver fresh and nutritious food right across Victoria.

The program boosts supplies for large-scale food relief organisations and supports volunteers on the frontline. Seven Coordination Grants will help major providers expand services, while 126 Local Grants will strengthen grassroots support.

Alex Makes Meals will use their Coordination Grant to establish 20 new food relief programs across north-east Melbourne – delivering more than 70,000 fresh meals through partner agencies. FareShare will use funding to deliver Meals for the Mob in partnership with First Nations communities.

Drummond Street Services will receive a Local Grant to deliver cooking workshops and a community meals program for young people living in social housing in Collingwood.

In Latrobe, Morwell Neighbourhood House will use their Local Grant to run a community-led pilot to transform local produce into preserved foods and shared meals – boosting food literacy and helping households stretch their budgets further.

A full list of Local Grants recipients is available at vic.gov.au/community-food-relief-program-local-grants.

A full list of Coordination Grant recipients is available at vic.gov.au/community-food-relief-program-coordination-grants.

The federal and state governments are improving road safety for motorcyclists by rolling out projects across Victoria to make sure some of the most vulnerable road users get home safely.

The Motorcycle Safety Infrastructure Program will deliver eight life-saving projects under the Road Safety Program to help reduce the likelihood and severity of motorcycle crashes.

Crews will install new motorcyclist friendly barrier treatments, improve signage and seal dangerous intersections.

The first stage includes $10.6 million to deliver eight projects across the Gippsland, Hume, Loddon Mallee and Greater Melbourne regions.

These works will be carried out across Victoria at:

• Licola Road near Heyfield, Glenmaggie and Licola
• Willowgrove Road near Trafalgar, Willow Grove and Hill End
• Mirboo North Trafalgar Road near Trafalgar
• Broadford-Flowerdale Road near Strath Creek
• Whittlesea-Yea Road near Yea
• Granya Road near Bullioh and Granya
• Mansfield Whitefield Road near Mansfield and Whitfield
• Old Sale Road, Shady Creek.

This is being delivered through a joint investment of $5 million from the federal government’s Road Safety Program and the $5.6 million state government through the Motorcycle Safety Levy.

This year 54 motorcyclists have lost their lives on Victorian roads.

More information can be found at transport.vic.gov.au/road-and-active-transport/road-rules-and-safety/motorcycles/motorcycle-safety-levy/motorcycle-safety-infrastructure-program.

The state government is backing jobs in Victoria’s developing critical minerals sector – with the approval of exploration works at one of the state’s most significant gold and antimony deposits.

Premier Jacinta Allan has announced the approval of a new exploration tunnel for Southern Cross Gold’s Sunday Creek Project near Kilmore.

The tunnel will enable underground drilling and exploration to begin on land the company owns while reducing community impacts, especially noise and light. 

The planned exploration activity will help Southern Cross Gold better understand the area’s mineralization with strong measures in place to address community and environment impacts.  

Research by the Geological Survey of Victoria suggests that central Victoria has a larger antimony resource than previously believed. 

Mining is already a big part of central Victoria’s economy and could grow further thanks to the new exploration near Kilmore.

Launched as part of the Economic Growth Statement, the Government’s Critical Minerals Roadmap is helping drive development of the state’s mineral resources while ensuring the community is engaged throughout the life of the projects by companies awarded the rights to extract state-owned minerals.

It coincides with a large increase in development activity, particularly in north west Victoria, which could support up to 7000 additional jobs in the coming decades.

Victoria has world-class mineral sand deposits containing demonstrated resources of titanium, zirconium and rare earth elements.

While critical minerals are in the spotlight, the state’s gold sector remains strong, underpinned by generations of strong local workforce and expertise plus record gold prices.

The redevelopment of Bendigo Art Gallery starts this summer following the appointment of a head contractor on the $45 million project.

Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes has announced that Fairbrother Construction has been appointed to lead the redevelopment, a project that will transform the gallery while providing a boost to local employment and construction businesses.

Operating in East Bendigo since 2008, Fairbrother Construction has delivered previous building works at the gallery as well as on major projects in town including the 13,000 square-metre ‘GovHub’ building Galkangu.

Approximately 260 jobs are expected to be created during the two-year construction phase of the project that will create a second-floor blockbuster exhibition space, innovative learning centre, theatrette, and Traditional Owner Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural materials.

Once the project has been completed, a further 170 jobs are expected and up to $35 million in annual spending added to the local economy.

The gallery’s collection of artwork will now be moved into storage ahead of its doors closing to the public on November 30.

The City of Greater Bendigo will deliver a special program of exhibitions and events at other locations while the gallery is closed, keeping residents and visitors connected to Bendigo’s celebrated arts and culture scene.

The Agroecology & Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) expresses grave concern following the Federal Government’s announcement of the members selected for the new National Food Council (NFC), as part of the “Feeding Australia” National Food Security Strategy.

AFSA—formerly the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance—is the only national organisation representing small-scale farmers, Indigenous food producers, farm and food system workers and researchers, and communities committed to localised food systems. These voices–and civil society more broadly–are glaringly absent from the National Food Council membership, while corporate interests—large producers and industry lobbyists—dominate.

The constitution of the NFC makes visible the control that is exerted by powerful, well-resourced sectors on our food system: executives from large agribusiness, food retailers, and trading groups, including representatives from Bega Group, Grain Trade Australia and the National Retail Association. This composition entrenches the status quo rather than setting a transformative agenda. Rather than challenging inequality and corporate concentration in the food system, the NFC risks becoming an echo chamber for the very players who have helped entrench those harms.

AFSA welcomes the inclusion of a representative from the United Workers Union, whose presence offers at least one vital link to frontline food system workers—though one seat cannot counterbalance the overwhelming corporate weight of the council.

AFSA notes with concern that the council includes only one First Nations representative, Dr Leisa McCarthy (Deputy Director, First Nations Engagement & Research Strategy, Menzies School of Health Research). While any Indigenous participation is positive, this single appointment cannot substitute for genuine self-determination or proportional representation. First Nations food systems, land rights, and sovereignty are foundational to any credible food sovereignty framework — they should not be reduced to a token seat.

Australia’s food system faces a polycrisis: accelerating climate breakdown marked by more frequent and severe droughts, floods, and crop failures; shrinking access to land and water as speculation dominates and energy projects displace agriculture; widespread labor exploitation, such as through the PALM scheme and underpayment across major supermarkets; biodiversity collapse, including the devastation wrought by industrial fish farming in Tasmania; growing public health threats from rising consumption of ultra processed foods (UPF); and rising hunger, with one in three Australian households experiencing food insecurity in the past 12 months. These are systemic failures that demand systemic change—not another business-as-usual advisory body.

This council reveals the government’s failure to deliver on its own commitments to build a fairer, more resilient and more sustainable food system through genuine collaboration. Instead, it paves the way for more of the same: fossil-fuel-dependent inputs, monocultures, land consolidation, extractive tech solutions and deeper corporate control. These approaches do nothing to address the real roots of vulnerability—a globalised food system built on cheap energy and exploited labour. We can expect “solutions” that reinforce corporate dominance rather than deliver food justice. This is not governance in the public interest; it is the Albanese Government choosing corporate interests over people and Country.

AFSA draws strength from our participation in the 3rd Nyéléni Global Forum, held in Sri Lanka in September 2025, where Indigenous Peoples, small-scale farmers, food workers, feminists and climate and health justice organisers forged a united political agenda. The Forum’s Common Political Action Agenda demands people-centred governance, agroecology and systemic transformation—rejecting corporate capture and multistakeholderism. Around the world, the food sovereignty movement is calling for a return to democratic control of food systems, not more industry-led bodies.

Through our work with the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) via the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples Mechanism (CSIPM), AFSA also witnesses how corporate capture is reshaping global governance. The latest High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) report on Resilient Food Systems, launched in Rome in October, calls for “equitably transformative resilience” and rejects the idea that resilience means reverting to the systems that created the crisis. We need food systems that are just, diverse and adaptive—not captured by private interests.

The newly appointed National Food Council has no legitimacy to speak for Australia’s farmers, food workers, First Peoples or eaters—the very people whose lives and livelihoods depend on a healthy food system. Instead, it hands the future of Australia’s food to the same corporations that profit from extracting and exporting the gifts of Country. This is corporate capture dressed up as public representation.

AFSA calls for resistance to this deepening corporatisation and for the creation of a people-centred food council grounded in justice, care and food sovereignty. Now is the time to build alliances across community-led, climate-conscious and food justice movements—and to demand a food system that nourishes people and Country, not corporate profit.

AFSA calls on Government to:

1. Reconstitute the National Food Council to include genuine representation of small-scale producers, food workers, First Nations communities, and civil society.
2. Adopt recommendations from global food sovereignty movements, such as those emerging from Nyéléni, to lay out a radical, people-driven National Food Strategy.
3. Ensure transparency and accountability, including how the NFC was selected, conflict of interest declarations of its members, and how its advice will be used.
4. Support participatory processes for First Nations-led food sovereignty initiatives, enabling self-determination over land, seeds, food economies, and governance.

AFSA Focal Point for Farmers, Tammi Jonas said: “The new National Food Council is a textbook case of corporate capture in Australia’s food governance. Rather than building resilience from the ground up, the government has handed even more power to those who profit from the very system driving ecological, social and economic harm. If the government is genuinely committed to resilience, equity and justice, it must dismantle this closed shop and make room for the people who actually feed their communities — small-scale farmers, First Peoples, food workers, and local food system organisers. That is the call coming from global movements, as we saw at Nyéléni. The people of Australia cannot afford for the government to ignore us.”

A new report from the Food Connect Foundation reveals how community-owned food infrastructure can build resilience into Australia’s food system at a time of rising climate, health and supply chain pressures.

Regenerating the Regions: How Food Hubs Can Build Resilience, authored by Robert Pekin and Emma-Kate Rose, draws on more than 20 years of hands-on experience building fair, localised food systems; including raising $2M in equity to purchase and operate Food Connect Shed, Brisbane’s first community-owned food hub.

Since its 500+ ‘Careholders’ took ownership in 2018, Food Connect Shed has:

• Quickly achieved and maintained profitability, and delivered an estimated social ROI of $3.20–$4.80 per dollar invested
• Supported hundreds of farmers, makers and small businesses
• Provided cold storage, commercial kitchens, processing facilities and networks otherwise inaccessible to small producers
• Demonstrated the commercial viability of a hybrid social enterprise model
• Created a replicable blueprint for community food infrastructure that strengthens local economies and improves food security

Food hubs are regionally based, shared-use facilities that make it easier for farmers and small food businesses to reach markets on fair terms. They aggregate produce, provide essential infrastructure, offer business support, and connect small and regenerative producers with local buyers.  By integrating commercial operations with social enterprise principles, food hubs strengthen regional economies, shorten supply chains, and help communities access nutrient-dense food. They also create circular, regenerative feedback loops that improve landscape health and community resilience.

The new report shows how a national network of these hubs could be funded and built, and the investment opportunity it presents for the regions. By replicating Food Connect Shed’s model, communities, government and industry can collaborate to address the critical “missing middle” between farm production and mainstream markets.

Co-authors Rose and Pekin, alongside social impact expert Elise Parups, will discuss the report and potential impact in a national launch webinar at 11:30am AEST, Thursday 27 November.

Emma-Kate Rose, Co-CEO, Food Connect Foundation said: “Food Connect Shed proves what’s possible when communities invest in their own future. This report captures what we’ve learned and demonstrates how regional food hubs can replicate that success to rebuild the infrastructure Australia urgently needs – for farmers, for our health, for climate, for secure access to food. Our strategy is a practical roadmap for more communities to follow, and strengthen the resilience of our food system for the long term.”

National Online Launch Event

Hear the authors present their findings, explore the investment case for regional food hubs, and join a national conversation on food system resilience. Hosted by Elise Parups, Emma-Kate Rose and Robert Pekin.

• 11:30am AEST, Thursday 27 November
• Online.  Free registration required
• Presentation, live Q&A and access to the full report

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/report-launch-regenerating-the-regions-how-food-hubs-can-build-resilience

Leading heart charities across Australia are uniting to raise awareness of high cholesterol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), while educating Australians about the different types of cholesterol. High cholesterol is a condition that affects approximately 2.1 million Australians.
Often known as the ‘silent disease’, many people do not experience any symptoms. High cholesterol is a critical risk factor for ASCVD, an umbrella term for diseases caused by fatty deposits silently building up in the arteries.
In 2023 alone, Australians lost an estimated 666,000 years of healthy life due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), accounting for almost 12% of the total burden of disease. This was ranked fourth behind cancer, mental health and substance use disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions.
Fronted by Hearts4heart, Heartbeat of Sport and FH Australia, Cholesterol Awareness Week aims to empower Australians of all ages to better understand their risks when it comes to cholesterol, and ways to improve health outcomes.
As a central theme of the week, Australians are encouraged to learn the ABCs of ASCVD – a simple yet powerful message designed to drive awareness and action around heart health for all ages.

• Alert – raising awareness of the silent risks associated with elevated cholesterol and ASCVD
• Behaviour – manage cholesterol levels by adopting healthy lifestyle habits that help prevent build-up.
• Check – know your numbers, visit a cholesterol checkpoint for a free screening, or consult a GP.

“There is a significant gap in understanding the different types of cholesterol and their impact on heart health. Even among those who have experienced a cardiovascular event, many are unaware of their cholesterol levels,” said Tanya Hall, CEO and Founder of Hearts4heart. “Recent research shows that individuals who are informed are more likely to take proactive steps towards treatment and ongoing management. Knowing your numbers is vital for managing cholesterol effectively.

“By understanding the ABCs of ASCVD, we aim to empower all Australians to take proactive steps in protecting their heart health from an early age. Heart attacks and strokes are preventable when you’re aware of your risk factors,” said Ms Hall.
“Many people assume that managing cholesterol alone is enough,” said Dr Nick Lan, Cardiologist in the Cardiometabolic service of Fiona Stanley Hospital. “But elevated triglyceride levels tell another part of the story. High triglycerides are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and contribute to the residual risk that remains even after LDL cholesterol is treated. Awareness of this is key to truly reducing heart disease.”

Effective management of high cholesterol and ASCVD often requires changes to lifestyle behaviours, including diet and physical activity.² As such, regular consultations and open communication between patients and healthcare practitioners are essential for effective management.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and elevated Lp(a) are genetic disorders that can lead to raised cholesterol levels. Knowing your family history and obtaining an early diagnosis are crucial for timely treatment and effective management. High triglycerides are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and contribute to the residual risk.
“Inherited high cholesterol, such as FH, and elevated Lp(a) often go undiagnosed, yet it can affect anyone. The hospital educational stalls give people the chance to speak with healthcare professionals to understand inherited cholesterol and their FH risk early.” said Jenny Della-Vedova, founder of FH Australia.
To access resources and information about Cholesterol Awareness Week, visit Cholesterol Awareness Week (November 24 – 30)​ – Hearts4heart 

Regional communities across Australia are leading the way in developing innovative housing solutions alongside the renewable energy rollout, a new report by RE-Alliance shows.

Released today, ‘How Australia’s shift to renewable energy can deliver beneficial outcomes for regional housing’ highlights examples from NSW, Victoria and Queensland where local councils, communities and renewable energy companies are working together to turn temporary workforce accommodation into long-term housing assets.

From refurbished aged-care homes and community-owned rental housing to new modular neighbourhoods and upgraded infrastructure, regional communities are already delivering clever, future-focused solutions.

While celebrating these locally-led case studies, the report also explores the common barriers to implementing better housing outcomes through renewable energy development, and stresses that local communities and renewable energy companies cannot overcome these barriers without state and federal government support.

With thousands of workers required in the regions for renewable energy and transmission projects, rural and regional communities have a unique opportunity to turn short-term demand into long-term housing supply.

The report calls for:

• More state and federal funding for councils to help them plan for housing and infrastructure early
• Clearer rules and frameworks that encourage temporary accommodation to become legacy housing
• Support for essential infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, power) so councils can open new land for homes in areas where they are needed
• Stronger partnerships between communities, councils and renewable energy developers.

RE-Alliance National Director Andrew Bray said: “In our work with rural and regional communities, we increasingly hear about the potential impact on local housing and accommodation that an increase in workers for renewable energy and transmission projects can bring.  Many regions are already experiencing housing shortages, making this issue particularly pressing for communities expecting multiple, concurrent project developments, bringing many hundreds of workers into local areas.

“Mitigating the risks and potential impacts associated with short term workers’ accommodation is a core requirement for any new development. However, as we show in the case studies in this report, where local communities and local governments are supported, it is possible to go beyond simple impact mitigation and deliver legacy housing outcomes for regional communities.”

Across the six case studies, a key theme emerges: when local councils have the resources to plan early and work closely with communities and developers, they can secure long-term housing benefits that last well beyond construction.

The case studies include:

• Wellington (NSW): Refurbishment of a former aged-care facility for worker accommodation. The facility will become a community asset that can transition into housing or other uses after the renewable energy construction phase is complete.
• Rockhampton & Gracemere (QLD): Modular workforce villages designed from the start to become vibrant permanent communities.
• Mortlake (VIC): A renewable energy company investing in crisis-housing development for women and children escaping family violence.
• Uralla (NSW): A Council-led local housing strategy ensuring a renewable energy zone leaves a legacy of affordable and diverse housing.
• Wimmera (VIC): Community Special Purpose Vehicles delivering long-term housing built by locals, for locals.
• Dubbo (NSW): New infrastructure (roads, sewer, electricity) for temporary workers site built to permanent residential standards, meaning after construction the site will be returned to the local council for future housing development.