Civil Contractors Federation Victoria has welcomed federal funding for critical civil infrastructure that will lead to more housing developments in metro and regional areas.
The federal government this week announced an allocation of $35.8 million to accelerate delivery of enabling infrastructure such as roads, sewerage and water assets, to support five projects set to more than 3,000 new homes online.
The five projects include:
- $7.3 million to deliver roads, drainage, paths, streetlights and utilities for 90 new homes in Ararat, in Victoria’s west;
- $7.1 million for new roads and civil infrastructure to enable the establishment of 35 new housing lots in the City of Whittlesea LGA;
- $2 million to sub-divide council-owned land to provide an additional 35 dwellings in Beaufort;
- $11.3 million to upgrade sewer pump stations along the Calder Highway in Marong, in the Bendigo region, to enable more than 2,300 new homes, and;
- $7.9 million for housing enabling civil infrastructure to support more than 600 new dwellings in Morwell in the Latrobe Valley.
“You cannot spend a dollar on housing until you spend a dollar on housing enabling civil infrastructure,” CCF Victoria CEO Lisa Kinross said.
“Before a government or housing provider can commence work on a housing project, the civil industry is required to unlock the development with demolition, earthmoving and land development services; build the roads; connect the properties to utilities and lay the foundations for future development.
“Modern civil infrastructure ensures the development of sustainable, affordable homes of choice; catering to a growing population and reducing the cost of living.”