November 21st, 2022Council seeks bright ideas to help solve the affordable housing crunch

Hepburn Shire Council is inviting the community to come forward with any bright ideas or insights to help increase affordable housing across the shire.

The most recent national census shows there are 2,008 unoccupied homes in the shire, twice the Victorian average, while rents have risen by 51% over the past ten years.

And around ten percent of homes in the shire are listed on short stay accommodation websites, which means even though there might be enough houses, there is not enough housing.

Acknowledging the issue, the development of a housing affordability strategy and action plan is a key output of the Council Plan 2021-25 to create a healthy supported and empowered community.

And the council last week held an online webinar to discuss the themes of affordable housing and how people can be involved in the project  with a public survey now open until Sunday,  December 4.

Printed surveys and the issues and options paper are available at council libraries and hubs with more information available at the council’s Participate Hepburn website at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/affordable-housing.

Pop-up sessions are also being held over coming weeks in Creswick, Glenlyon, Clunes, Trentham and Daylesford.

The council will also host an Affordable Housing Solutions Forum in February 2023, with community members able to register their interest to attend.

Hepburn Shire housing facts 

Of the 9,477 private homes in the shire, 2,008 are unoccupied (21%) – twice the Victorian average (2021 Census).

Nearly all homes (94.5%) are separate houses, and most of those have three or more bedrooms (72.8%).

Rents have increased by 51% over the past ten years. The median rent is $295 per week.  A single person on the aged pension would be spending more than 60% of their income on rent at that level.

In the year to June 2021, there were 20% (or 58) fewer private rental listings in Hepburn Shire.

At least 1,000 homes are listed online for short stay accommodation (e.g. Airbnb), roughly 10% of all dwellings.

There are currently 500 active short-stay rentals advertised in the Daylesford area, 96% are entire homes. This has increased by 51 properties since July 2019