Council
17 October, 2025
Green light for key worker housing
THE Victorian Government has approved a proposal to make 15,000sqm of land along Harrington Road available for key worker and affordable housing.
Council was notified of the decision by the Department of Transport and Planning on Thursday (October 9).
The approval paves the way for up to 50 modular homes – a mix of one, two and three-bedroom houses - to be installed on the site.
“This is great news for Warrnambool because we’re a step closer to having more homes for key workers and more affordable housing for families in need,” Mayor Cr Ben Blain said.
“This is a novel approach to housing that will help employers and help families who are keen to work in Warrnambool but have struggled to find a place to live because of the housing shortage.
“We’ll now move towards a procurement phase that will involve seeking a partner to finance, design and construct and manage the delivery of homes and enabling infrastructure including roads and drainage.
“We are aiming to secure the involvement of a community housing agency to ensure strong, positive long-term operation over the anticipated 25-year life of the project.”
The project land was part of a buffer zone around the former saleyards. The key worker and affordable housing project is being pursued along with the development of a master plan for the entire area.
Following an Expression of Interest process, shortlisted respondents will be invited to tender for the project, with council looking to award a contract in early 2026.
“We believe this project provides an opportunity to deliver, in a relatively short time frame, a very practical part of the solution to the housing shortage,” Cr Blain said.
