This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
VICTORIA’S new Premier Jacinta Allan has unveiled her new cabinet, with Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny also taking on the new Suburbs portfolio as the government looks to assume more control of development decisions from local councils in a bid to build more homes – which Allan described as the “number one” issue for Victorians.
Kilkenny’s expanded role is a direct result of the Housing Statement, which was former Premier Daniel Andrews’ last major planning announcement before his shock resignation last week. It set a target of building 800,000 homes in Victoria over the next decade, with an emphasis on public-private partnerships.
Developments of more than $50 million in metropolitan Melbourne and $15 million in regional Victoria, and with at least 10% affordable housing can be approved and fast-tracked by the Planning Minister as part of the vision.
It also proposes that 44 public housing towers across the suburbs will make way for public-private developments – which it described as “Australia’s biggest urban renewal project” – and surplus public land is to be sold off to developers to build housing.
“There continues to be that strong focus – that central focus – of building more homes. This is the number one issue for Victorians across the state, whether you’re in the suburbs of Melbourne, the outer suburbs, regional cities, or country towns, this is an issue of critical importance,” Allan said at yesterday’s announcement.
“Building 80,000 homes a year, every year for the next decade is the task before [us]. We need to focus that task in government with the new Housing Minister, with the new Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts working with the Minister for Planning, but also to continue that work with industry, with the private sector, as we build more homes, because we know increasing supply helps provide more homes, more affordable homes, and can address those housing crisis issues,” she said.
“We’ve got to build more homes and we’ve got to make sure that they’re affordable for Victorians.”
“The Minister for Consumer Affairs will focus, with the housing team, on those important issues about supporting renters, making sure we increase the rental stock but also putting in additional protection for renters across Victoria.
Speaking to Kilkenny’s new role, Allan said, “We want to work with suburban communities, suburban councils, suburban families about how we can provide more homes that are better connected to transport services, close to jobs and close to services.” In a statement, Allan said Kilkenny’s new role would include “clearing the backlog of approvals, making sure good decisions are made faster and guiding the way our suburbs grow”.
The Victorian government has said the Planning Minister’s expanded approval powers would mean around 13,200 additional homes would be brought to market that would otherwise be delayed, and cut application timeframes from a typical 12 months-plus down to four.
Harriet Shing will become Minister for Housing, tasked with overseeing the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and the redevelopment of Melbourne’s high-rise public housing estates, which the government says will develop 10% more social homes as a result. She will retain the Water and Equality portfolios.
Victoria has the lowest social housing stock across the nation, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, with social housing accounts for just 2.9% of the state’s residential properties. Victoria saw a 5.3% increase in the use of homelessness services between December and March, Homelessness Australia says.
Colin Brooks will become Minister for Development Victoria and Minister for Precincts, “leading work to ensure Victorians can afford to live in high-quality homes in thriving precincts, close to where they work”, Allan said.
“[His role will include] looking at how we can bring government land – we have significant precincts already around the state, areas like Fishermans Bend, areas like Docklands, we’ve got work in East Werribee…Minister Brooks will be focused on working with the private sector on delivering more homes in those precincts.”
Danny Pearson is now Transport Infrastructure Minister and Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop.
Tim Pallas retained the Treasury portfolio, as well as Industrial Relations, and will take on the new position of Minister for Economic Growth.
