Monaghans Real Estate manager Terry Monaghan said Stawell was struggling with the lack of spaces to build. 

“At the moment we are looking at a lot of older homes that will need to be demolished in order to put newer homes and buildings in their place,” he said.

“First home buyers are looking, there is interest, with the Stawell Gold Mines finishing and the Nectar Farms starting up there will probably be more blocks available for buyers and investors.”

Mallee MP Andrew Broad said he had met with the Northern Grampians Shire Council several times to discuss the matter.

“The council is still dragging the chain on this one, a lack of housing blocks is holding this community back from growing,” he said.

Mr Broad said developers having control of vacant housing blocks in Stawell was the wrong move.

"If you place responsibility on developers you will be waiting forever, this is a stark contrast to Swan Hill where their council is responsible for developing the land," he said.

Northern Grampians Shire Council chief executive Michael Bailey was aware of a number of development sites across the town, which were a mix of council owned and privately owned holdings council were continually and actively working towards. 

“The most recent reporting on land availability in the Shire shows there is sufficient infill and greenfield supply to accommodate for expected growth,” he said.

“The requirement for council to be involved in Stawell’s property development is therefore questionable given the risk associated with property development in a significantly constrained financial environment.

“Council actively seeks investment attraction at every opportunity. This includes property development and new housing builds.”

Mr Bailey said council took an aggressive approach to this and had worked with some of the biggest developers in Australia over a number of years in preparation should demand grow.

“We are committed to ensuring our planning scheme is designed to facilitate the development of residential land use and that strategic planning continues as we speak,” he said.

Mr Broad also said banks should forgo first home deposits for people with a strong rental history would make housing more affordable.  “There has been a lot of receptiveness to this,” he said. “A bank needs to see a person has the capacity to service a loan and the government needs to make sure a person who wants to purchase their first home can get into the property market."