My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Planning. How will the Allan Labor government’s landmark housing statement transform Glen Waverley and Melbourne’s east? For so many Victorians housing is one of the most critical issues at the moment. Victoria is growing rapidly, but we know housing construction just is not keeping pace. This supply shortage has house and rent prices increasing while rental vacancies are at an all-time low. To solve these challenges the solution is simple: we need to build more homes. I am proud to be part of an Allan Labor government that is committed to doing just that. Our landmark housing statement is a bold plan to build 800,000 homes over the next decade. These homes will be more affordable, high quality and in the communities where Victorians want to live. It is a five-part plan. We will make good decisions faster, build cheaper housing closer to jobs, strengthen renters’ rights, build more social housing and reform Plan Melbourne and the Planning and Environment Act 1987. For more information I encourage my community to visit wvw.vic.gov.au/housing-statement.
Minister’s Response:
Thank you for your question. The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) plays an important part in facilitating the provision of housing for Victorians. The Victorian Government has recently announced Victoria’s Housing Statement 2024-2034, setting a target to build 800,000 homes in Victoria over the next decade, delivered through an Affordability Partnership with the housing industry.
To achieve this target, the Housing Statement establishes a coordinated program of initiatives that benefit the entire state, including the community of Glen Waverley and others across Melbourne’s east. Key planning initiatives include clearing the backlog of planning permits, making big decisions faster, increasing housing choice in activity centres, making it easier to build small second homes, and implementing the recommendations for planning reform from the Commissioner for Better Regulation.
To assist with clearing the backlog of planning permits, DTP will also establish a dedicated team to work with project proponents, local councils, and referral agencies. This will help speed up decision-making processes for approval of more homes and reduce projects ending up in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
There will be an immediate focus on delivering an additional 60,000 homes near several activity centres across Melbourne. Activity centre plans will guide investment in for community facilities, public spaces and parks on a neighbourhood-scale. The program will also consider the best way to incentivise more affordable housing. DTP is working on introducing clearer planning controls to deliver an initial 10 activity centres around Victoria to increase housing supply and choice. One of these new activity centres will be established in Chadstone in Melbourne’s east, nearby to your electorate.
Initiatives delivered through the Housing Statement also respond to development of the new Glen Waverley Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) station. The new underground SRL East station at Glen Waverley will be one of the most well-connected stations on the metropolitan network. The station will provide a key transport link to the Glen Waverley line and will integrate with local bus services – connecting more people to jobs, retail, restaurants, and entertainment nearby, as well as travel around greater Melbourne.
Since the release of the Housing Statement, a variety of planning changes have already been delivered, including expansion of the Development Facilitation Program to reduce application times from 12 months to four months for developments that will significantly contribute to Victoria’s economy, introduction of deemed to comply residential standards and removal of permit requirements for single dwellings on lots of 300 square metres or more in select residential zones.
Hon Sonya Kilkenny MP
Minister for Planning
