A Brightway Initiative
Workforce accommodation that leaves a lasting legacy for regional communities
Australia is facing a twin crisis — housing and energy. The Legacy Housing Pledge offers a unique model to solve one while supporting the other, building permanent housing that can be used for workforce accommodation and then converted to low cost housing, helping to solve the regional housing crisis.
The Issue
Australia's Twin Challenges
Australia is facing both a housing and energy crisis. The rapid shift to renewable energy is driving large transient project workforces into regional communities that already have vacancy rates below 1% — squeezing local rental supply and affordability before a single project begins.
Poor planning from state government and EnergyCo has led to reactionary policies that leave local councils and communities bearing the burden — with no lasting infrastructure to show for it once projects end.
"Housing is always the first thing that new projects need — and the last thing that project proponents think about."
Key Pressure Points in Regional NSW
1
Sub-1% Vacancy Rate
Regional towns at breaking point before renewable energy construction workforces even arrive.
2
Rapid Energy Transition
Large transient workforces squeezing rental supply and driving locals out of the market.
3
Reactive Policy Gaps
NSW State Government and EnergyCo failing to plan ahead — local communities taking the hit.
4
No Lasting Legacy
Traditional camps and on-market rentals disappear once projects end, leaving nothing behind.
The solution: Legacy Housing
Why Traditional Models Fail Communities
Legacy Housing is designed to convert contractor workforce accommodation into long term housing- turning temporary need into a tangible benefit for the local community.
Temporary Camps & On-Market Rentals
- Creates segregation of workers and local community
- Isolate workers often within limited local amenity and lower quality accommodation
- Local renters pushed out of town through rental competition
- No lasting infrastructure or housing stock after project completion
- Damage to social licence and community relationships
Construction of Long-term Quality Housing
- High quality, long-term housing stock built for the community
- Better worker experiences — integrated into local life
- Positive social impact with workers buying local
- Economic benefit for local businesses and services
- Transition to low cost housing
Benefits for All
A Better Model for Projects, Workers & Communities
01
Reduced risk
Reduced long-term accommodation risk and volatility for developers and project proponents through a managed, professional solution.
02
Social Licence
Stronger social licence and a smoother approvals pathway — a positive story for investors, councils, and regional communities alike.
03
Worker Wellbeing
Integrated community living — not isolated camps. Workers participate in local life, buy locally, and experience higher wellbeing.
04
Predictable Solution
Predictable, professionally managed workforce housing from a specialist provider with track record across NSW.
05
Community Legacy
Growing stronger regional communities — housing that remains after the project as permanent residential low cost housing.
06
Permanent Residents
Pathways for project workers to become permanent regional residents — converting FIFO/DIDO workers into community members.
Positive Social Impact
Partnering to Address Housing Need
Legacy housing doesn’t just support project workforces — it creates a pathway to social and affordable housing that communities desperately need.
SOCIAL & AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Brightway is working with a range of social and affordable housing providers and regional councils to ensure legacy housing transitions directly into low cost housing.
- The organisations maintain a significant affordable housing waitlist across New South Wales.
- Legacy housing can transition to social and affordable housing allocations post-project.
- A model that solves Australia's housing crisis while enabling the energy transition.
Specialist Workforce Housing
Through the Workstays brand, Brightway manages permanent, high-quality corporate housing across regional NSW — serving major mining and renewable energy companies and their contractors.
#1
Largest workforce accommodation provider in the Hunter Valley
9
Active locations across New South Wales
∞
Scaleable and location agnostic
24/7
Permanently managed corporate housing stock
Specialist Workforce Housing · Regional NSW
- Permanent, high-quality corporate housing across regional NSW
- Serving major mining and renewable energy companies and their contractors
- Largest provider of worker accommodation in the Hunter Valley
- Scaleable model — deployable to any regional location
- Professional management and ongoing maintenance included
- Designed to integrate workers into the local community
Our Properties
Two Models. Endless Locations
Whether you need existing managed housing stock or a purpose-built co-living community, Brightway has a solution sized for your project and workforce.
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Design-and-operate model for bespoke communities tailored to your project workforce profile.
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Workers have private studios with their own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.
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Shared high-quality amenities: large kitchens and BBQ areas, lounges, laundry and gym.
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Designed for community, privacy and wellbeing — not isolation.
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Purpose-built to transition to permanent low cost housing post project.
Co-Living Design Principles
Every co-living community is co-designed with the project proponent to ensure the right mix of private and shared space for your workforce — and the right legacy for the host community.
Private studios
Communal lounge
Gym facilities
Shared kitchen + BBQ
On-site laundry
Legacy pathway
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Regional towns at breaking point before renewable energy construction workforces even arrive.
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Permanently managed corporate housing stock with professional property management included.
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Flexible configurations available for different workforce sizes and project requirements.
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Currently operating in 9 NSW locations with scaleable model for new sites.
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All housing designed to transition to permanent residential or community use post-project.
Current Locations
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Muswellbrook — 613 homes pipeline
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Aberdeen — 280 homes pipeline
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Broulee — 699 homes pipeline
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Tamworth — 47 × 4,000sqm+ lots
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Southern Highlands NSW — 34 lifestyle lots
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Eden — 2 x motel refurbishments
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Walcha — Co-living community
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Leura — Co-living community
Policy Leadership
Muswellbrook Leads the Way
Muswellbrook Shire Council: Australia's First Temporary Workforce Accommodation Policy
In September 2025, Muswellbrook Shire Council became the first NSW council to adopt a Temporary Workforce Accommodation Policy — a landmark policy that sets the standard for how regional councils can harness workforce housing to build lasting community benefit.
- Supports temporary housing that can be converted to permanent residential or visitor accommodation
- Enables workers to integrate into the community rather than being isolated in rural camps
- Supports local businesses by encouraging temporary workers to buy locally
- Allows for natural expansion of urban areas after decommissioning of accommodation
- Creates pathways for temporary workforce members to become permanent regional residents
- Provides a replicable policy model for councils across regional NSW and Australia
Muswellbrook Shire Council
About Brightway
The Team Behind the Pledge
BRIGHTWAY DEVELOPMENT GROUP
A regionally focused developer pioneering solutions to Australia’s housing crisis. Founded in 2014 by two-time Olympian Edward Fernon, the company has undertaken over 23 development projects across NSW, QLD and WA.
BRIGHTWAY REAL ESTATE
An innovative approach to the sale and management of residential real estate — delivering the dream of home ownership to Australian families through a holistic three-part model.
Delivering the dream of home ownership for all Australians. The future of housing must centre on wellbeing, sustainability, and community connection.
THE PLEDGE
The Legacy Housing Pledge
Brightway is seeking councils and corporations to support the Legacy Housing Pledge — an agreement to prioritise workforce accommodation that builds permanent long-term housing rather than temporary camps or on-market rentals that displace locals.
01
Support permanent legacy housing over temporary ‘camps’ or leasing on-market rentals that displace locals
02
Encourage workers to buy local and integrate into local communities during the project lifecycle
03
Provide pathways for workers to become permanent residents — not FIFO or DIDO — wherever possible
Join The Pledge
Add Your Endorsement
Whether you represent a council, corporation, contractor or community organisation — your endorsement matters. Together we can establish a new standard for how workforce accommodation is delivered in regional Australia.
By signing, your organisation commits to the Legacy Housing Pledge principles and joins a growing network of councils, developers and businesses committed to leaving a lasting legacy in regional communities.
Brightway
Muswellbrook Shire Council
Join the Legacy Housing Pledge
For enquiries contact legacyhousing@brightway.com.au or call 1300 113 133