On Thursday, September 30, Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas unveiled new facilities at the park for seasonal workers, which will boost accommodation for the region’s workforce for the upcoming harvest and for years to come.
Boort Lakes Holiday Park received $500,000 to build 16 new cabins and six ensuites for existing caravan sites, providing accommodation for up to 77 workers to support the region’s agriculture industry.
“As soon as these new cabins were built, we had agriculture workers ready to book in and they have enjoyed staying close to their workplaces,” Ms James said.
Ms Thomas said providing suitable accommodation was critical to addressing rural and regional worker shortages.
“It’s fantastic to see the progress Wendy has made in growing accommodation options for Boort and the wider region — supporting agriculture businesses in her community to access the workforce they need,” Ms Thomas said.
“We know how important it is for farmers to have suitable accommodation options for their workers — locally and on-farm — to make it easier for them to recruit workers for the harvest season.
“Access to accommodation is a common barrier that prevents people taking a job in agriculture. These investments in locally-led solutions will have a positive flow-on effect for the entire community.”
The development is part of the Victorian Government’s Seasonal Workforce Accommodation Program, which is providing financial support for 13 regional projects to deliver COVIDSafe accommodation, transport and support services for up to 2000 seasonal horticultural workers.
Nearby Boundary Bend Olives received $62,000 to build 12 new caravan sites with toilet and shower facilities for its temporary on-farm caravan park, which workers benefited from during this year’s olive harvest.
Further afield, Mildura City Backpackers received $45,000 to create COVIDSafe kitchen facilities, doubling its worker accommodation, and Nyah Village Caravan Park received a $109,000 grant to build five units for up to 12 workers.
Building on both projects is finished and workers have started using the new facilities.