The lack of housing options, particularly for low income and essential government, community, and small to medium business staff, is constraining the Region’s growth and sustainability. This results in economic and social challenges, including social pressures from limited access to services, hindering workforce attraction and retention, and undermining service and business viability.

The Shire of Esperance (the Shire) has been at the forefront of exploring opportunities to address local workforce housing challenges. However, despite efforts to support investment and housing market activity, there has been little or no improvement in

rental housing availability.

A snapshot survey undertaken by the Shire of Esperance, Esperance Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Workforce Australia, found that the lack of staff housing is significantly constraining key service delivery, business operations and employment growth across the region.

Key findings from the survey respondents included:

• 52 business and key service agencies said housing was a barrier to employing staff.
• 71 existing employees required accommodation.
• 156 new staff could be employed if housing were available.
• 39 business and key service agencies indicated they would commit to a lease and advertise positions with accommodation included.
• Most organisations reported target salary ranges below $100,000, highlighting affordability pressures for lower-income workers.

Responses were received from a broad cross-section of industries, including retail, hospitality, tourism, community services, transport and logistics, childcare and automotive trades.

Roles that would benefit from access to accommodation include full-time and part-time positions, trainee and entry-level roles, and mid-tier positions essential to maintaining and expanding local services.

Despite being unable to secure funding for the Key Worker Housing Project, the Shire continues to explore every opportunity to deliver land and housing solutions to meet current and future community needs.

Key initiatives the Shire has undertaken and continues to progress within its local government authority include:

• Constructing four of its own worker-accommodation units, valued at $1.6million, to attract staff to key positions.
• Developing Stage 4 of the Shire’s Flinders Estate and delivering 29 cottage lots. Stage 3 (36 lots at 700-800sqm) is fully designed, and the Shire is actively seeking funding options to progress the subdivision in a financially feasible way.
• Redesigning the structure plan for the remainder of Flinders Estate subdivision.
• Providing free contouring works to enable development of 25 residential lots in Development Area 3.
• Supporting alternative housing options.
• Seeking interest from a community housing provider.
• Exploring the development of a lifestyle village with a potential provider, with a future site being identified within the revised Flinders Estate Subdivision Plan. (This is currently unviable without subsidy.)
• Providing early planning advice to a hotel developer on a proposed 56-room project.
• Working closely with Development WA as it conducts feasibility studies for residential and industrial land in Nulsen.

Heaps

To support delivery of the project, the Shire of Esperance will contribute:

• Land valued at $1 million.
• Project management and delivery services; and
• A cash contribution of $1.5 million toward construction costs.

Additional capital funding is being sought from the State Government to fund the balance of the project costs.

Key workers are people employed in roles essential to community function and wellbeing, including health, education, community services, emergency services, local government, and critical roles in tourism, hospitality, agriculture and retail.