Mildura Rural City Council is seeking input from the community to help shape its Short Stay Budget Accommodation Strategy.
Mildura Mayor Ali Cupper said the strategy promised to be a key tool for two of our region's most important economic drivers – tourism and agriculture.
She said the overarching aim of the strategy was to plan for the growing need for affordable, well-located budget accommodation for both the tourism and visiting worker sectors, which would provide a raft of benefits for the region.
"From a worker accommodation perspective, the strategy will provide certainty to relevant industries on how worker accommodation can be, or will be developed, ultimately resulting in more of this type of accommodation in our region where it's needed most," Cr Cupper said.
"Provision of more worker accommodation will also relieve pressure on the rental market in our region as workers are often competing for the same places.
"Similarly, for our tourism sector – specifically for those looking for budget accommodation – we sometimes see visitors and visiting workers competing for places in the same market.
"This strategy aims to relieve those pressures, provide certainty for industries reliant on visiting workers while also setting clearer, fit-for-purpose guidelines and regulations for worker accommodation."
Tourists staying in short stay budget accommodation already spend about $59 million per year in our region, while about $80 million flows into the wider local economy each year from short stay budget accommodation users.
Cr Cupper said the Short Stay Budget Accommodation Strategy would build on these significant economic drivers.
"A key factor in developing this strategy is ensuring it is informed by the community, particularly sectors reliant on visiting workers or budget accommodation, which is why we're seeking as much feedback as possible in this current phase," she said.
Information and an opportunity to provide early feedback is now available at yoursay.mildura.vic.gov.au/budgetaccommodation. Feedback can provided until 18 October.
Further consultation will be conducted as the strategy is developed, including online community information sessions later this year.
