July 4th, 2026Backing Local Workers On The Bellarine Peninsula

The state government is helping more people live closer to where they work, with new accommodation on the way in the Bellarine.

Minister Settle joined Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant in St Leonards where construction will start soon for up to 10 Sea Bounty workers, supported by the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund.

The new shared living facility will feature 10 bedrooms, two bathrooms, a shared kitchen and garden areas, providing affordable accommodation close to work in a traditionally competitive local rental market.

Construction is expected to kick off with preliminary works at the end of July, followed by the main construction in the coming months, subject to the appointment of a contractor.

The Bellarine Peninsula is a key location for mussel farming in Australia.

The Victorian mussel industry produced 1,700 tonnes of Australian Blue Mussels in 2023-24.

Sea Bounty farms and processes 1,000 tonnes of mussels each year that are supplied to supermarkets, seafood retailers and wholesalers across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Sea Bounty is also growing oysters and offering mussel farm boat tours from Portarlington, giving visitors a unique experience and bringing more tourists to the region.

The Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is unlocking around $370 million in new housing investment for thousands of regional workers.