The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has renewed its call for a united vision for the growth of greater metro Melbourne following today’s State Government release of a 10-year plan for the area.
The Government’s plan includes 27 additional greenfield areas across Melbourne’s outer south-east, north and west, which will be released as part of the plan to deliver 180,000 new homes over the next decade.
The pipeline of available land gives developers the confidence to invest early and get shovels in the ground sooner to deliver more homes for big, growing families, said Minister for Planning and Suburbs, Sonya Kilkenny. It also provides concrete timelines for industry and community about when the 27 new planning processes will commence, she said.
“This is a window 10 years into the future for home builders like those represented by the Urban Development Institute of Australia – it’s what they’ve been asking for to plan and build with confidence,” said Ms Kilkenny.
“This is all about providing choice and getting the balance right between development in the outer suburbs and development in the inner city. For too long, that’s been too one-sided.”
MAV CEO, Kelly Grigsby said the scale and complexity of the Government’s growth management and planning task cannot be overstated and local government needs to be a leader and critical partner in the process.
“Further expansion of growth areas must include consideration for strong economic and employment clusters, transport in support of a connected and compact city – as the Activity Centre announcement acknowledged – and include the community infrastructure that can support growth areas to be great places to build more homes,” said Ms Grigsby.
“The MAV is aligned with the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) call that development contributions reform needs input beyond the development industry, from planning experts and local government.
“Once our elections are finalised, councils will be at the ready to partner with the State Government on reform to development contributions, Activity Centres, and new greenfield projects,” she said.
The Government revealed the first three greenfield plans set to be released in 2024-25 include:
- Northern Freight Precinct, an employment precinct in Whittlesea Council;
- Cardinia Creek South Part 2, a residential precinct in Cardinia Council;
- Kororoit Part 2, the western corridor within Melton Council adjacent to Caroline Springs.
These build on the seven Metropolitan Melbourne greenfield plans under preparation as part of the Victorian Planning Authority’s workplan.
All up, the 10-year plan represents the longest ever pipeline of new land in greenfield areas.
“Family homes and backyards are a beautiful thing for those who want it – that’s why we are delivering ten years’ worth of them in one big plan for the first time ever,” said Premier, Jacinta Allan.
“Whether it’s a new house with a backyard that’s fit for a big family, or a unit in the inner suburbs near a train station for a first home buyer – I’m about more homes and more opportunities for everyone.”
