The State Government will help deliver more than 200 homes across 10 regional centres, including two in the Limestone Coast, under the first stage of projects to be delivered through the $10m Regional Housing Initiatives Program.
More than $6m has been provisionally allocated in this first wave, subject to final contract terms, to help deliver more than 200 move-in-ready houses and serviced residential allotments across the state.
The seven projects designed to fast-track residential allotments include Mount Gambier and Bordertown.
In Mount Gambier $623,455 has been allocated to Evergreen Built to help develop 16 medium-density residential allotments and eight specialist disability accommodation dwellings.
In Bordertown $779,318 will go to the Tatiara District Council to help develop the final two stages of a 55-allotment residential subdivision.
The other developments are in Cummins, Cowell, Port Broughton, Kimba and Orroroo.
The aim of the Regional Housing Initiatives Program is to identify residential projects that deliver the greatest strategic value for the state but could benefit from targeted assistance from the State Government to get started.
There was strong interest in the program with 30 submissions received from councils, local industry, employers, and developers for investment consideration.
The recent State Budget included another $20m for more regional housing projects to come over the next two to three financial years.
The Office for Regional Housing was established in 2023 within Renewal SA, as an initiative of A Better Housing Future with a commitment to working with local governments, economic development agencies, and employers to address housing shortages in regional South Australia.
This latest program builds upon the successful Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme which is delivering 30 houses for key government workers across the Copper Coast, Riverland, Mount Gambier, Port Augusta and Ceduna.
The first homes have already been completed in Port Augusta and Mount Gambier and are occupied by teachers, paramedics and police officers.
It’s expected all 30 houses under the pilot program will be complete by September 2025.