‘Housing is crucial’: Hollimans forced to build homes for workers

A Charters Towers company is planning to build 22 new homes in Hughenden for employees as they “scale up” work in the rural town. Would you move for a new house?

Poly pipes loaded on a Viper Water Solutions truck and ready to be delivered.

Charters Towers company Hollimans have successfully sought approval from the Flinders Shire Council to acquire residential blocks in Hughenden.

The company – which runs a poly pipe factory in the rural town – has formally expressed an interest in purchasing 22 blocks to place two and three-bedroom transportable houses on.

Hollimans managing director Ben North said this housing initiative is part of the company’s strategy for business expansion in Hughenden and stable, good quality housing is crucial to gaining and retaining staff.

So far Hollimans has identified 12 adjoining blocks of interest at Alyss and Hunter Street.

However, purchasing blocks directly from a council and bypassing the auction and tender process requires ministerial approval.

The residential blocks are along Alyss and Hunter St, near the water tower and a short 100m to 600m walk to Viper Water Solutions.

Flinders Shire councillors agreed to seek this ministerial approval at the September 18 council meeting.

“Employee housing is in short supply in Hughenden, but there is significant stock of vacant residential blocks,” the council report noted.

“The provision of employee housing is crucial to the realisation of Council’s economic development plan.”

The Viper Water Solutions factory in Hughenden.

Councillors voted unanimously to seek a ministerial exemption for the direct sale of land to Hollimans.

The sale will need to follow certain conditions, including the land being valued by an independent valuer to decide the sale price, and for council to retain a buyback provision in the event residential development is not commenced within a time period “acceptable to Council”.

Hollimans owns Viper Water Solutions in Hughenden and Hollimans Rural Mitre 10, Hollimans Home Timber and Hardware, Hollimans Transport (Weston’s Transport), Wide Span Sheds, Pioneer Water Tanks and GoWild Outdoors (formerly Hollimans Gun Shop) in Charters Towers.

Originally published as ‘Housing is crucial’: Hollimans forced to build homes for workers