STRATEGY BUILDS SOLID FOUNDATIONS

New homes, unlocked land and a talent attraction campaign are among the goals kicked so far by a major liveability project for the Central Highlands.

Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) has released a progress report for the Workforce Development and Accommodation Strategy (WDAS).

The report shows significant strides in several of the WDAS’ focus areas, particularly housing.

A shining example is a modular display home and its transition to health staff accommodation, which was marked with a ribbon cutting celebration last week (10 September).

CHDC first teamed up with Duke Housing, Kestrel Coal Resources and Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) to bring to Emerald the two-bedroom cottage last year. It was opened to the public to showcase the speed and quality of modern methods of construction (MMC).

Kestrel recently purchased the home and generously donated it to the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (Central Queensland Health) for staff accommodation at Emerald Hospital.

“To have CHDC, CHRC, Duke, Kestrel and Central Queensland Health all working together has been incredibly gratifying and rewarding,” CHDC Regional Development Coordinator Deb Barns says.

“We also hope this is the start of MMCs being embraced in this region as a viable alternative to traditional builds because modular homes don’t have the same demands on skilled labour and materials, which are already in short supply.

“CHDC will keep collaborating with the modular housing sector to make this happen.”

Another promising outcome of Build 12 in 12, the WDAS’ campaign to construct a dozen new homes inside 12 months, was the approval of a 14-home modular development in Emerald.

“Fifteen new homes were built across the region in 2024-25 and while not all results can be directly linked to our campaign, it’s laid valuable groundwork by accelerating conversations, removing barriers, and fostering collaboration,” Ms Barns says.

“The identification of almost 60 blocks of surplus land owned by Council, and the subsequent releasing of that land for sale for housing, is also a direct result of a property review conducted under the WDAS and that’s something we’re immensely proud of.”

Other WDAS progress so far includes the delivery of Smart Move, which promoted job opportunities and positioned the Central Highlands as a great place to live and work. The campaign generated over 40,000 online clicks and 425,000 video impressions in its first two months.

The Strategy also produced an advocacy paper to push for fairer airfares to and from Emerald and Enhancing Early Childhood Education and Care, a collaboration to strengthen the sector’s workforce sustainability.

The WDAS and its progress report can be accessed at chdc.com.au.

CHDC worked with Infinitum Partners to develop the WDAS in partnership with the Central Highlands Resources Roundtable and CHRC, with the assistance of key stakeholders across the agricultural, education, construction and childcare sectors.

The WDAS sets out actions to address housing shortages, childcare access and other barriers to make the Central Highlands a more attractive place to live, work and invest.