Funding announced to help ease Colac’s residential housing crisis

Published on 13 April 2022

Council welcomed the Victorian Government funding of $3million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund towards the Elliminyt Wetlands project, announced by the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Regional Development onsite today, adding to Federal Government funding as part of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund.

The Elliminyt Wetlands project and upgrade of the Irrewillipe Road Retarding Basin is a significant project for the Colac Otway region and will support the release of approximately 300 residential lots for much-needed, new residential land.

“Opening up this area for residential housing will have a significant impact on our local community and positive flow-on effects for the wider region,” said Mayor Hanson.

“The issue of affordable, residential housing in Colac Otway remains a clear priority for this Council and we are really pleased to be working together with Regional Development Victoria to address this issue by preparing the wetlands to facilitate housing development.”

The upgrade of the Basin will also deliver much needed amenity to the community with the development of a natural parkland setting providing open space for recreation, improving the liveability of the area.

In addition to unlocking housing lots in Elliminyt, the project will have positive environmental impacts, improving the quality of stormwater entering Lake Colac and creating the potential to provide water to nearby sporting facilities including Colac Racecourse, Colac Golf Club and Elliminyt Recreation Reserve in the future.

For more information, please visit: www.colacotway.vic.gov.au

Pictured onsite at the Elliminyt Wetlands Project (left to right) are Mayor Kate Hanson, Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas and Colac Otway Shire Council CEO Anne Howard.