A New Plan for Victoria

Urbis supports the State government’s efforts in increasing housing supply in line with Victoria’s population growth, and as set out In Victoria’s Housing Statement. The introduction of housing targets and the Clause 53.23 provision to streamline the delivery of significant residential with affordable housing has been necessary steps in the right direction to deliver housing approvals more quickly. Urbis We strongly support stream-lined pathways and urge the Government to further discuss with the development sector how State Pathways can continue to mature and increase planning approvals and housing supply for large strategic sites across Victoria. 

In order to address concerns raised by Councils regarding challenges in meeting targets, we encourage ongoing engagement with the relevant government and industry bodies to further break down the barriers to new housing provision and identify new initiatives.  

We recommend that the New Plan addresses the following key matters:   

• Balancing growth in strategic areas: Plan Melbourne previously set an aspirational target where 70% of additional dwellings would be located within established Melbourne and 30% in the growth areas. Further action is needed to acknowledge the important role that growth areas play in accommodating growth and providing accommodation at an affordable price point. The New Plan should also build on the strengths of the Activity Centre Pilot Program by targeting housing growth within an 800-metre catchment of existing and proposed railway stations. 

• Interim targets, milestones and accountability: Interim timeframes, regular monitoring and accountability measures provide agility and certainty to evolving housing needs. Housing delivery should align with milestones that measure progress and include guidance on accountability, such as incentives, rewards, or penalties.  

• Affordable housing & incentives: The New Plan needs to address affordable housing, including objectives to deliver a more appropriate range of housing for both renters and buyers, including key workers, students and low-income households, and families with children.  Addressing social and affordable housing also requires considering factors affecting affordability, including taxation, construction costs, and labour shortages.  

Key actions should include: 

Projections indicate that over 10 million people will live in Victoria in 2050, resulting in 4.5 million more people compared to the recent 2021 census. How and where the New Plan positions residential growth and associated commercial and community infrastructure has consequences for Victorians’ quality of life, the economy, and the natural environment. 

The introduction of the Clause 53.22 provision to streamline the delivery of significant economic development has fast-tracked approvals for employment-generating and service-providing projects has been effective. As Victoria’s population grows, Urbis also welcomes efforts to change behaviour around car dependency and help enable people from across the state to have better access to public transport options, community infrastructure and job opportunities to make places more liveable.  

We recommend that the New Plan addresses the following key matters:   

• Employment statement: The introduction of an employment statement ensures a balanced decision-making considering location and provision of employment relative to housing. There are countless benefits of aligning the location and density of jobs with housing, the main being the creation of sustainable and equitable city growth, as already recognised in the 20-minute neighbourhood principle.   

• Economic land and employment targets: The Victorian Government developed the Melbourne Industrial and Commerce Land Use Plan (MICLUP) in 2020, which built on the relevant policies and actions of Plan Melbourne. As the New Plan is set to consider all areas across the state, this provides a great opportunity to review current and future needs for industrial and commercial land.  

• State standard guidelines and frameworks: We support frameworks and guidelines, similar to NSW ‘Guideline for local employment land strategies’, made by the Victorian Government as parent guides to help local Councils and create better consistency. Such documents would support the development of a cohesive vision across the state.  

• Infrastructure plans: Developing and publishing long-term plans for infrastructure sectors will support Victoria in meeting the policies and targets set by the New Plan. These land use and infrastructure plans will also facilitate decisions on infrastructure project funding.  

• Transport infrastructure: The Victorian State Government’s current investment includes significant investments in various transport modes, however the split between road-based transport investment and sustainable transport investment is still not reflective of the overall sustainable vision. 

Key actions should include: 

The New Plan aims to create communities that are better connected, well-designed, and inclusive for all members. A key focus is cultivating a sense of place and identity for communities and understanding how each community identity will interact with new developments, sustainability goals and infrastructure provision.   

While we acknowledge the role that planning plays in providing facilities that contribute to a functional and liveable neighbourhood, planning policies and actions do not create local identities organically. Community input is the key driver in effectively and meaningfully shape suburbs and towns through placemaking initiatives. 

We recommend that the New Plan addresses the following key matters:   

• Localising place and identity: Victoria requires state-wide placemaking strategies that identify key visions and initiatives for implementation. The New Plan should include programming and activation benchmarks with a schedule outlining key locations for each initiative, based on the communities’ specific character and vision.   

• Infrastructure provision: We encourage greater focus on infrastructure provision that will be developed in response to this plan. The priority identifies the importance of community facilities such as parks, services and access to diverse transport options for all communities, including a focus on safe cycling routes for children and other vulnerable groups. 

• Funding and feasibility: It is crucial to understand the specific stakeholders involved in the delivery of new and revitalised infrastructure. Whilst identified that this will benefit all members of the community, it has not been identified who will provide the infrastructure.  

Key actions should include: 

Victoria’s growing population, projected to reach 10 million by 2050, will increase pressure on urban growth boundaries, biodiversity, and tree canopy cover. New housing, infrastructure, and public transport options must co-exist with our natural environments, water systems, and agricultural land.  

Housing and employment targets must be managed carefully to ensure they lead to high-quality, liveable environments, including an adequate provision of green spaces and managing construction impacts. The New Plan must be ambitious in directing densification to the right locations to maximise Victoria’s urban and rural potential, whilst also setting stretch targets for net gain in biodiversity and rewilding.  

Urbis recommends that the New Plan addresses the following key matters:   

• Transparency & informed decision-making: Sustainable building practices require investment in the transparency and quality of real-time data platforms. The development industry can only make informed decisions that contribute to sustainable living outcomes when useful natural hazard risk information is universally available.  

• Financing Green Buildings: Victoria is championing sustainable and energy-efficient building practices through various initiatives. Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 and the Victorian Planning Provisions promote sustainable urban growth and mandate sustainable design elements in new developments. The New Plan must maintain Victoria’s commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the global effort to combat the adverse effects of climate change.  

• Protecting natural systems: Sustainable management of urban green spaces brings numerous benefits for the community, including recreational opportunities, improved mental and physical health, increased levels of social engagement, reduced urban heat island effect, and enhanced property values.  

• Balancing density and agricultural land: Densifying a network of metropolitan and regional centres is the key to unlocking our potential to manage township boundaries sustainably. 

• Transport gaps: Victoria relies on train and road infrastructure projects and improving other sustainable transport modes, such as cycling infrastructure and bus service coverage and frequency is crucial to reducing car dependence.  

Key actions should include: