WORKFORCE ACCOMMODATION

During 2010 many new personnel have been recruited onto the project and have moved into the local Wonthaggi community.

Maintaining the availability and affordability of long-term rental properties and seasonal tourist accommodation while accommodating this new workforce is a significant focus for us.

AquaSure and its design and construction contractor, Thiess Degrémont, are keen to ensure the project has a positive impact on the local community and economy and have been working with Bass Coast Shire Council and local real estate agents on this accommodation challenge. Together, we have developed the Victorian Desalination Project Housing Accord.

Victorian Desalination Project Housing Accord

The Victorian Desalination Project Housing Accord is an agreement between AquaSure’s design and construction contractor Thiess Degrémont, Bass Coast Shire Council and local real estate agents.

It recognises the importance of maintaining the existing pool of affordable long-term rental properties for local residents and ensuring that hotel accommodation remains available to drive the local tourism economy.

The Housing Accord provides Thiess Degrémont staff with an entirely new and exclusive accommodation option — holiday homes that have never been rented before.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) provided funding for a survey of holiday homes by Bass Coast Shire Council that identified over 500 properties that could be used by the project workforce. DSE also provided funding for a study on housing accommodation in the area.

The council has since sourced many suitable homes throughout the region, ranging in price and size. Workers view properties on an exclusive workforce housing website that has been developed specifically for the project.

Thiess Degrémont, Bass Coast Council, local real estate agents and a number of government agencies and other organisations continue to work together to achieve the objectives outlined in the Accord.

This approach aims to ensure that the current rental market remains available to permanent residents of the region and that holiday accommodation is still available to tourists.

You can download a copy of the Victorian Desalination Project Housing Accord  (PDF 576kb)

If you are interested in leasing your holiday home to desalination plant construction workers please contact the agents directly (PDF 356kb)

Further information about the Victorian Desalination Project Housing Accord can be obtained from the monthly newsletter accord news