Migration experts warn Bendigo must act now on housing shortage as arrivals surge

Bendigo's migration boom is presenting both opportunity and challenge, with officials and experts urging the city to act decisively on housing affordability and settlement support as new arrivals continue to reshape the region's demographic landscape.

Data released by the Bendigo City Council shows that the municipality welcomed more than 2,800 migrants in the past financial year—a 34 per cent increase on the previous period. The surge reflects broader national trends, but comes at a time when rental vacancy rates in central Bendigo have fallen below 1 per cent, with median rents on High Street and around the Bendigo Hospital precinct climbing to $1,850 monthly for three-bedroom homes.

"We're seeing unprecedented demand from migrants seeking affordable alternatives to Melbourne, but our housing stock hasn't kept pace," said a spokesperson from Settlement Services International, the peak body coordinating support across the region. "Without intervention, we risk creating a bottleneck that undermines integration."

The Bendigo Multicultural Community Centre, located on View Street, has reported a 41 per cent surge in inquiries regarding temporary accommodation, employment pathways, and English language support. Centre director communications emphasise that current funding covers only 60 per cent of demand.

The concerns come as international students and skilled migrants increasingly choose Bendigo over congested Melbourne suburbs. La Trobe University's Bendigo campus enrolment has grown 18 per cent year-on-year, with graduates frequently choosing to remain in the region.

Council officers have flagged the need for expedited planning approvals on residential development in outer suburbs including Strathfieldsaye and Epsom. A council strategic planning officer noted that current approval timelines of 18–24 months for medium-density housing projects are "incompatible with the pace of settlement demand."

Community advocates have also highlighted gaps in mental health and trauma support for refugees arriving from conflict zones in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Middle East. The Bendigo Community Health Service reports a 52 per cent increase in referrals for counselling services over two years, yet funding allocations remain static.

"Bendigo has always been a welcoming city, but welcome alone isn't enough," said a spokesperson from the Victorian Multicultural Commission. "Housing, employment, healthcare access—these are the infrastructure pillars that determine whether migration enriches or strains a community."

Council is expected to present a Migration and Settlement Action Plan to councillors in August, outlining infrastructure investment priorities and partnerships with state and federal governments aimed at addressing bottlenecks before the next financial year.

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