Last week, a NSW Parliamentary Committee held hearings to explore solutions for essential worker housing across the state. As the housing crisis fuels the flames of a cost-of-living crisis, the pressure is on to find solutions.
Regional communities hosting major infrastructure projects have long faced unique housing challenges due to the boom-and-bust cycles of construction and operation. Renewable energy projects are no exception.
As projects in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone ramp up, the region will see a temporary influx of workers. While this can bring economic benefits, it also risks exacerbating housing shortages in communities already struggling with availability and affordability.
In the Hunter, housing supply is critically low. A recent report by the Property Council of Australia looking at housing affordability paints "a bleak picture", with wages failing to keep pace with the staggering increase in house prices.
However, with proactive planning, and leveraging of existing state and national housing policies, the renewable energy boom could become part of the housing solution rather than the problem.
"If we get on the front foot, there can be huge win-wins," says Heidi McElnea, Regional Partnerships Coordinator at Community Power Agency. "Short-term worker accommodation has the potential to transition into long-term, sustainable housing solutions."
But, as McElnea is quick to point out, achieving these benefits requires cross-sector collaboration.
"Industry ought to invest in housing to meet its short-term worker needs, but if this is done in partnership with councils and community housing providers, for example, there is the potential for long-term legacy benefits for these regions."
"This might look like new builds that revert from worker to general use after a period of time, it might be programs to support 'tradie flats' being built in big backyards across towns that can then increase the housing pool, or make life easier for growing families or aging parents," McElnea said.
"There are numerous old buildings underutilised in regional centres due to changing needs. A boost of capital can be used to repurpose these into accommodation centres."
Another key solution? Upskilling the local workforce.
"We need to talk about workforce housing in the same breath as workforce preparedness," McElnea adds. "One of the most effective ways to reduce housing pressure is to train and employ local workers, rather than relying on an influx of temporary labour."
McElnea, hailing from the neighbouring REZ region of New England, has co-authored a report on the region's housing challenges and opportunities with Allison Mudford of Orange Compass. The report highlights case studies of how strategic planning for short-term workforce housing has successfully expanded long-term housing availability in other regions, and how REZ communities can explore similar methods.
