The NSW Government today announced it is taking steps to address the key worker accommodation shortage in West Wyalong, acquiring three new homes for teachers.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey and Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke announced today the Government had purchased three newly-built three-bedroom detached units in Belar Street for $870,000 for teacher housing and had also acquired another two units in the same development for police housing.
“The Government is committed to building and acquiring homes in rural and regional areas for our key workers, like teachers and police, who are vital in the delivery of essential services to these communities,” Minister Pavey said.
“The growth in mining and other employment around West Wyalong has been fantastic for the community, but it has meant there has been a shortage of quality rentals,” Ms Cooke said.
“Providing this housing means West Wyalong’s teachers and police will be able to focus on their professional duties without the distraction of searching for suitable accommodation for themselves and their families.”
West Wyalong Public School Reliving Principal Jodi Penfold said the new accommodation was already helping new staff.
“Up until now finding accommodation could be a challenge for new staff,” Ms Penfold said.
“We have a teacher from the Rural Experience Program who would have had to find alternative accommodation, which was proving to be difficult, to work here for the next 12 months.
“It’s taken the worry off teacher’s minds because they now know they have somewhere to stay.”
In the last financial year, the Government’s Land and Housing Corporation’s Housing Services Division delivered approximately $9.4 million worth of housing for teachers and police in regional towns across Western NSW.
The Housing Services Division manages 1286 teacher residences and 660 police residences in rural and remote communities in NSW.
