Push to create affordable homes at expensive Lorne

Surf Coast Shire has vowed to press ahead with plans to create affordable housing in one of the region’s most-expensive towns.
A report to council has blamed a shortage of affordable housing at Lorne for drying up workers in “key services” to the tourist resort, such as health, emergency services and hospitality.
The shortage was also driving down the town’s residential population, which in turn hurt Lorne’s “ability to sustain robust volunteer services and recreational clubs”, the report said.
Restrictions on supply of new housing, a lack of available in-fill sites for redevelopment and a high proportion of holiday homes were behind the town’s affordable housing crisis. A shire statement said the report’s recommendations included “incentives” for property owners to rent houses to service workers.
The report also called for a registered housing association to manage rentals for “key workers”, especially police, medical workers and ambulance officers.
The shire statement said the recommendations would be reviewed to ensure they could be “practically implemented”.
Surf Coast Mayor Libby Mears said the affordable housing shortage was a threat to Lorne’s future.
“This issue is not going away and we must tackle it to ensure the sustainability of the township,” she said.