After community consultation, the Victorian Government has announced significant changes to its housing targets. This includes sizeable reductions in the approval targets applied to metropolitan councils. Local councils were engaged around their growth capacity and limitations. Key industry stakeholders were also consulted. Communities expressed concerns about housing targets and sought to ensure they do not impact heritage, environment, and quality. Following these consultations, the Victorian Government revised its targets to reduce its reliance on Melbourne councils, with new sub-targets for greenfield land in metropolitan growth area councils and the Greater Geelong, Greater Bendigo and Ballarat regional councils.
Height limits for activity centres have also been finalised. Whilst the core areas for high-rise apartment buildings have remained unchanged, the catchment areas surrounding the centre of the activity centres have had their height limits reduced. The catchment areas’ perimeters have also been shrunk following feedback from councils and locals. Changes relate only to the initial ten activity centres announced, and the government did not provide details on twenty-five other activity centres that have been flagged but not made public.
The Victorian Government will release its ‘Plan for Victoria’ in early 2025. It will act as a strategic plan for Victoria and guide how the government will create more homes near transport, job opportunities, and essential services in vibrant, liveable, and sustainable suburbs, towns, and regions. In its submission to the government on its planning objectives, the REIV emphasised the need for diversity in housing options and to ensure innovative means of attracting capital are fostered to finance the delivery of the government’s planning initiatives. The REIV welcomes the government’s focus on developing an appropriate mix of housing options.
Find the Victorian Government’s press release.