Homes for sale or rent are being snapped up as quickly as they can be listed.
The shortage has been well documented in Echuca-Moama over recent months, and even Mathoura is being ‘‘overwhelmed’’ with interest from people looking for somewhere new to live.
It is in part driven by the the fact Murray River has seen an eight per cent increase in its population in the past 12 months, according to figures from the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation of Councils.
And so Mathoura-based Murray River councillor Tom Weyrich spearheaded a motion that has led to council investigating the release of more residential land for new homes.
‘‘COVID plays a part in this — people are looking to get out of the city,’’ Cr Weyrich said.
‘‘Rental housing is virtually non-existent and the majority of houses for sale have been sold.’’
Cr Weyrich said council had a key role to play in boosting residential development in Mathoura.
He said it was in a position to prepare and sell off fully serviced blocks for residential development, which he said would boost council revenue.
Land bordered by the Cobb Hwy and Jones and Mathoura streets has been earmarked for the sub-division project, and Cr Weyrich said he would like service connection works to start by the end of this year.
While the cost and the potential revenue for council had not been calculated, Cr Weyrich said the current market pointed to the proposal being ‘‘viable’’ and ‘‘achievable’’ for the council.
‘‘We’re not looking to borrow money,’’ he said.
‘‘We have the equipment and the machinery, we own the land, and there’s no reason we can’t make this happen.’’
Cr Weyrich said Mathoura was in a perfect position for development, because it sat halfway between Deniliquin and Moama, allowing Mathoura residents a ‘‘straight shot’’ to either town for work or leisure.
A similar housing development project for Mathoura ‘‘nearly got over the line’’ under the former Murray Shire Council, which merged with Wakool Shire to form Murray River Council in 2016.
Cr Weyrich said the proposal was lost in the commotion of the merger.
At council’s April meeting, councillors passed a motion to formerly investigate the subdivision project.
The feasibility study is expected to take three months to complete.
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