The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has released its submission Reforming Victoria’s Planning System which is seeking to fast-track reforms to support the state’s housing needs, transparency and integrity in the system, and long-term sustainability for communities.
Developed in response to the Victorian Government’s program to review and rewrite the Planning and Environment Act 1987, MAV says the submission has broad support across metropolitan, rural, and regional local governments and offers practical, forward-looking solutions to improve outcomes across the state.
“Local government stands ready to facilitate change to bring about thriving, resilient and inclusive communities. It is in that spirit that the MAV puts forward this submission for a comprehensive program for Victorian planning system reform,” said MAV President, Macedon Ranges Shire Councillor, Jennifer Anderson.
The Submission identifies key challenges currently impacting the effectiveness and efficiency of the Victorian planning system and includes sixteen recommendations, proposing a planning reform model that integrates system designers in state government with system administrators in local government.
It focuses on reforms that will allow Victoria’s planning system to meet the foremost challenges of the day: housing supply, location and affordability; climate change, natural hazards and environmental sustainability; and delivering infrastructure where and when it is needed, said President Anderson.
“The current Act is 37 years old and simply isn’t fit-for-purpose to address urgent challenges including housing supply, location and affordability, climate change, natural hazards and environmental sustainability facing Victorian communities today,” she said.
Specific recommendations include that the new Act:
- Considers a new objective “to achieve and maintain net zero greenhouse gas emissions”;
- Updates the definition of affordable housing and enables mandatory contributions in rezoned precincts;
- Consolidates Development, Infrastructure and Open Space contributions in such a way that ensures all state and local infrastructure requirements can be met on a fair and equitable basis.
“The MAV welcomes the Victorian Government’s commitment to review and rewrite the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The opportunity to modernise and reimagine the planning system to meet Victorians’ needs now and into the future is important and exciting,” said President Anderson.
