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Wangaratta Chronicle 170523

Page 1

TODAY

16o

Mostly sunny

15o 15o 13o THURS

FRI

SAT

www.wangarattachronicle.com.au

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

$1.80 INC. GST

Phone (03) 5723 0100

Securing grounds of high school

Page 3 FEATURE

MOMENT IN HISTORY FATHER Nathan Verallo hopes the community will enjoy the chance to come together this Saturday to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the establishment of a Catholic parish in Wangaratta. Full story page 5. PHOTO: Simone Kerwin

Celebrating volunteers

Kelly strikes 5 in Devil’s thumping win Sport

$2B housing plea FEDERAL Independent MP for Indi Helen Haines has called for a $2 billion partial fix to the regional housing crisis during a National Press Club address yesterday. She said a $2 billion Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund would pave the way for social housing developments in regional Australia. Televised nationally on Tuesday afternoon, Dr Haines described

Haines addresses National Press Club with a solution to crisis BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

the unprecedented housing shortage as “gutwrenching” for people who are homeless, would-be homeowners, mortgaged homeowners and renters. She talked about Wangaratta council’s in

principle choice for Nestd, a not-for-profit social enterprise, to deliver 200 homes for young people, pensioners, women at risk of homelessness, and essential workers. Calls for funding by the government to expedite preparation works at the former Ovens College site on Greta Road were also made by Dr Haines. Work to clear the site,

including asbestos removal, and the building of water and sewage infrastructure need to be carried out before the social housing can be built. However, Dr Haines highlighted that under the guidelines of the National Housing Infrastructure Fund (NHIF) - they can’t access this support. “The Federal Government should get involved in

removing barriers like this across regional Australia, by funding critical enabling infrastructure in a more flexible way that meets rural needs,” she said. Dr Haines has proposed for the government to set up a dedicated Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund. “This would be a $2 billion fund to unlock investment in new houses

by building the basic infrastructure needed for new multi-type developments - private housing, build to rent social housing essential worker housing,” she explained. “It would have the flexibility to fund social infrastructure and provide local government assistance to fast-track planning approvals.” ■ Continued page 7

THANK YOU to all the volunteers who make such a difference to our regional communities. 23 Baker St, Wangaratta Phone: 03 5722 2663

garrynash.com.au


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