The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Page 1

Vol. No. Vol. 2518No. 4 27

FREE PUBLICATION

A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM

Wednesday, January 13, 2022 2016 Wednesday, July 27,

CHEERS TO A CENTURY: The Wimmera is raising a glass to celebrate major milestones of three residents. Nhill’s Mavis Jarred, St Arnaud’s Walter Lardner and Dimboola’s Ian McRae all celebrated their remarkable 100th birthdays within the past week. They are pictured above; Walter, centre, with six-month-old Elliot Hornsby of Cohuna, the youngest family member. Read their stories on pages 8 and 9.

Growing needs B

BY JESSICA GRIMBLE

uilding activity in the Wimmera and southern Mallee must double during the next decade to meet the demand of an increasing population.

Wimmera Development Association executive director Chris Sounness said future building activity also needed to suit the needs of residents – with a particular increase in lowmaintenance, one to two-bedroom properties. Census data has shown the population of the Wimmera and southern

Mallee increased 0.5 percent per year between 2016 and 2021 – which was the first population increase in at least 40 years. This equates to more than 1200 people in five years, which is about the size of Donald – the region’s seventh-biggest town. Mr Sounness said the region needed to add about 200 new dwellings per year to its housing stock to meet forecast future demand. He said this ‘housing revolution’ needed to reflect a reduction in household sizes – at 2.22 people per dwelling in 2021 compared with 2.4 in 2006 – and recognise that 20 percent

of dwellings in the region were one to two-bedrooms, while 70 percent of households in the region were defined as one to two people. “The data tells us we need a home that’s designed for two markets – those over 65 and for younger people, 20 to 30 years-old, who need a fit-forpurpose, low maintenance unit or villa that heats and cools very easily. We have far less of these homes than the rest of the state,” Mr Sounness said. “Homes in the Wimmera and southern Mallee are traditionally a bit cheaper. “When larger homes become avail-

able, it allows families to move in, which leads to more children in our schools, more demand for services and facilities, which allows our towns to grow.” The Wimmera and southern Mallee refers to the Horsham Rural City, Northern Grampians, Yarriambiack, Buloke, West Wimmera and Hindmarsh shires. Mr Sounness acknowledged the challenges facing the building industry as skills and materials shortages and rising costs challenge businesses. An emerging Wimmera Development Association initiative will aim

to attract more tradespeople to the region. “We want to attract more young people into the region – to offer them a facility to set-up a business, offer them mentoring and wrap-around services so they are supported in the transition from tradie to business owner,” Mr Sounness said. “Finishing work by 3.30pm and skiing, bushwalking or rock-climbing by 4pm is a hidden secret among the trades community in the Wimmera, and it’s incredibly attractive for many people.” • Call for assistance, page 2

IN THIS • Crisis• accommodation plan • Quantong residentsMallee standMachinery strong • Football-netball action INISSUE THIS ISSUE Monthly AgLife lift-out including 32-page Field Days preview Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au

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