News

Affordable Housing Update March 2025

11 March 2025

Hi, I'm Clare Richards, Housing Solutions Broker, at Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Keep reading for an update on some of Council's recent work in the affordable housing area.

Appointment of the Mount Alexander Affordable Housing Trust Advisory Committee

After an expression of interest process, I’m pleased to share we’ve appointed some fantastic individuals to our advisory committee for the Mount Alexander Affordable Housing Trust.

They’re a diverse and super enthusiastic group who are working with me to develop recommendations on the appointment of the trustee, which will go to Council later this year and into 2026.

Together we are investigating options for the trusteeship which will align the purpose of the trust and the particular needs of our community.

The advisory committee for the Mount Alexander Affordable Housing Trust

The committee at their strategic planning day. Clockwise, from front centre: Clare Richards, Council’s Housing Solutions Broker; Natasha Williams, committee member; Jacqui Watt, committee chair; Liam Wilkinson, committee member; Gary McClure, committee member; Darren Fuzzard, CEO Mount Alexander Shire Council; Councillor Matt Driscoll, committee member and Council representative; Delphine Laboureau-Ormancey, committee member; Laura Keogh, committee member.

Scoping suitable projects for the Mount Alexander Affordable Housing Trust

We are also doing lots of other necessary background work to launch the Mount Alexander Affordable Housing Trust.

As I’ve mentioned previously, this is an independent charitable organisation which will develop local affordable rental housing.

The trust is here to meet our communities affordable rental housing needs in perpetuity (that is, forever). So part of the committee’s work includes looking at residential and town zone land opportunities for the trust, on which it could deliver affordable rental housing.

There are some criteria we’re looking for in the land, so if you or someone you know may have something please get in touch and we can discuss.

Last year, Council allocated $500K from our budget to the trust - so we have a significant start in our bank!


Unlocking State Government land for affordable housing

Discussions about accessing State Government land to deliver affordable housing continue.

The State Government is a big landholder in Mount Alexander Shire so it is really important work, and is proceeding in a very positive way. Our good relationships with the State Government keep our partnership strong.

That’s it for now, and I look forward to connecting in again soon with the biographies of our fabulous advisory committee members.

If there’s anyone you know who you think might benefit from receiving this blog post, please share it, and encourage them to ‘follow’ our affordable housing progress at www.shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/affordable-housing.

Clare Richards
Housing Solutions Broker, Mount Alexander Shire Council


Snapshot on affordable housing needs in our shire:

  • $473 is the median weekly rent in the shire
  • The availability of affordable rentals has declined by at least 20% since 2015
  • 47% of applicable households are in rental stress
  • At least 14% of shire households are in mortgage stress
  • 5,669 more people will call the shire home by 2046
  • More than 700 households have an unmet need for affordable housing in our shire.
The Mount Alexander Affordable Housing Trust Advisory Committee in their strategic planning meeting

The advisory committee at work during the strategic planning day.