Peri Urban Councils welcome housing support

Peri Urban Councils Victoria (PUCV) has today welcomed the Victorian Government's Housing Statement, noting the government's intention to begin the task of addressing the housing crisis in peri urban areas.

PUCV Chair Cr Michael Leaney said the fast-growing fringe suburbs were feeling the pressures of population growth and this regional housing package was a first step in the right direction.
 
“The Housing Statement contains some key initiatives that can, in the short-term, ease the pressure on a tight housing market, particularly the streamlining of larger housing developments, reducing some of the planning red tape for simple builds and helping more people get into the housing market with more money for the home buyer fund,” Cr Leaney said.
 
PUCV noted, however, that in the bid for a more efficient planning system, community involvement would be reduced and this could create some local tensions, which will needed to be considered.
 
PUCV Chair Cr Michael Leaney said it was good to see that funds raised from the Short Stay Levy would be invested back into affordable housing, with 25% of this going to regional Victoria.
 
“Understanding the demand for housing in regional areas versus the revenue that will come from this levy should be something the Government monitors as the levy takes effect,” Cr Leaney said.
 
“We also want to ensure that any impacts on demand for tourism accommodation will further be monitored as this rolls out,” Cr Leaney said.
 
PUCV also acknowledged the Government’s previously announced regional housing and worker accommodation funds would assist in addressing some of the housing affordability and supply issues in peri urban communities.
 
“PUCV does note that a lot of the heavy lifting of increasing long-term supply was focused on metropolitan Melbourne and the interface areas, which does not really support the growth needs in our community in the long term,” Cr Leaney said.
 
“We understand the government is working on a new Plan Victoria and we will be strongly advocating that the key challenges of meeting housing supply and the broader growth needs of our communities are clearly met in this plan – particularly funding for enabling infrastructure which is so important to get more land to market,” Cr Leaney said.
 
PUCV will be taking an active role in the consultation process for Plan Victoria, and will be drawing on the findings from the landmark research commissioned by PUCV “Managing Urban Growth in the Peri Urban Area” by Hansen Partnership.  
 
Key initiatives that impact peri urban areas include:
 
Regional Specific

•  Short Stay Levy: 25 per cent of funds from the Short Stay Levy (7.5% per night) will be invested in regional Victoria; and

• Victoria’s Development Facilitation Program: streamlining the planning process for significant regional housing developments over $15 million in exchange for 10 per cent affordable housing.

 
All Victoria

•  Dwelling Garden Units: less than 60sqm won’t require a planning permit;

• Single Dwellings: on lots bigger than 300 square metres, and not covered by an overlay, will no longer require a planning permit;

• Deemed to Comply: council planners to be able to quickly approve permits for houses that meet the residential standards;

• Future Homes Program: provides four sets of ready-made architectural designs which can be purchased by developers and adapted to a site;

• Victorian Homebuyer Fund: $500 million will be added to the fund to support around 3,000 more Victorians into a home through a shared equity model;

• Rezoning of Surplus Government Land: to deliver around 9,000 homes across 45 sites in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, setting a target of at least 10 per cent of affordable homes to be built across these sites; and

• Social Housing Accelerator: will build up to 769 new social housing homes over the next five years with funding from the Commonwealth Government.

 
Note: PUCV also notes the government’s Regional Housing and Key Worker Accommodation funds which have already been announced will contribute to addressing the housing challenges in our communities.
 
“We look forward to working with the Government to deliver more equitable, accessible and sustainable housing options in the fast-growing peri urban region,” Cr Leaney concluded.