This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Brumby Government has expanded the Urban Growth Boundary in Victoria, introducing 24,500 hectares of developable land to create 134,000 dwellings in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
Planning Minister Justin Madden said several Council planning schemes would be amended to incorporate these changes to the UGB and these included Casey, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Hume, Melton and Mitchell Shire Councils.
Madden said the next stage in providing more housing in the growth areas would be consultation on the Growth Area Framework and the preparation of Precinct Structure Plans for Melbourne’s newest suburbs.
He added that the amendment would also protect 15,000 hectares of native grasslands in Melbourne’s west and a further 6,000 hectares of land would be zoned for rural conservation purposes.
Residential developer Villawood Properties executive director Tony Johnson welcomed the plan and said the action will be positive for Melbourne’s growth.
“This is a good move for the growth of Melbourne which has been artificially constrained by the existing boundary and has seen land prices escalate dramatically with buyer demand.
“The new UGB expansion will open up a host of land opportunity for home buyers allowing Melbourne to better cope with its ever increasing population growth and ensuing housing demand,” he added.
Australian Property Journal
