A major housing boost for regional essential workers has reached key milestones across East Gippsland, with new developments in Bairnsdale and Lindenow set to provide dedicated homes for more than 50 healthcare and agricultural staff.
Labor Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh visited the site of a new 28-apartment complex currently under construction for the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS). Backed by the State Government’s Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, the development has officially reached the lock-up stage and remains on track for completion by the end of the year.
Located directly opposite the health service’s Day Street campus, the complex comprises 24 studio apartments and four two-bedroom apartments. The facility is designed to provide flexible short, medium and long-term accommodation for up to 32 doctors, nurses, allied health workers, and specialists at any one time.
BRHS chief executive officer Peter Abraham said securing local housing remains a critical hurdle for regional healthcare recruitment.
“Access to accommodation is one of the practical challenges faced by regional health services when attracting and retaining staff,” Mr Abraham said.
“This accommodation will make a real difference for the East Gippsland community by helping more healthcare workers stay close to BRHS when they are supporting local care.”
The Bairnsdale project has supported 30 local construction jobs and heavily engaged regional trade suppliers, with internal works, balconies, and external brickwork now taking shape.
The announcement comes alongside the completion of two new five-bedroom houses at Riviera Fresh in Lindenow. The new housing is designed to help the fifth-generation family farming business secure consistent labor and expand its large-scale packing and shipping operations.
Founded in the Mitchell River flats in the 1880s, Riviera Fresh now operates across four Australian sites, producing more than 7,000 tonnes of fresh produce annually.
Managing director of Riviera Farms, Nelson Cox, welcomed the completion of the homes.
“This investment in worker accommodation is an investment into the future of our business and will help to drive growth over the coming years,” Mr Cox said.
“We look forward to welcoming more workers to our Lindenow site and to getting more fresh veggies onto plates across Australia.”
The regional accommodation pipeline follows the arrival of new modular worker housing in Omeo late last year, which was built off-site in Stratford by Anchor Homes to support up to five Omeo District Health workers and their families.
Mr McIntosh said targeting accommodation directly addresses a dual economic challenge for the region.
“Local businesses and services need workers, and workers need somewhere to live,” Mr McIntosh said.
“Investing in worker accommodation means investing in local jobs, stronger businesses and services, and taking pressure off East Gippsland housing.”
