Activating local initiative through collaboration | Greater Whitsunday Housing Project

Since the Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit on 15 August, GWC has been actively seeking funding to stand up the Housing Alliance project. The GWC Board agreed to stand up a board committee called the Greater Whitsunday Housing Alliance Committee to oversee and provide the governance framework for the project, resulting in a Committee Charter and project Terms of Reference being developed. Initial committee members include representatives from UDIA, HIA, Master Builders, Q Shelter and CASA as well as the 3 Regional Councils.

The Summit highlighted the extreme need for affordable workforce accommodation and as a result, Mackay Airport has proposed a potential development on Airport land. They have requested expressions of interest from employers to confirm the demand for such an offering and there are plans to gather interested parties together in the new year to co-design the potential development. Employers who are interested in being involved should contact tonia@gwcommunities.org.au .

The first round of the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund opens in December this year for 14 weeks. GWC has been actively engaging with Tier 1 Community Housing Providers, the 3 Regional Councils and developers to encourage applications for this funding, especially because this funding round has a regional focus.

Members of the social and emergency accommodation technical working group have expressed interest in continuing to meet to explore collaboration opportunities. The most recent meeting highlighted collaboration opportunities linked to improving access to services via the Library, food distribution, community preparedness in regards to homelessness and data sharing across services including the Mackay Health and Hospital Services.