Bill to rewrite Planning Act must be scrutinised in order to deliver homes Victorians need
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has called for comprehensive parliamentary scrutiny of the State Government's planning reform bill introduced today, raising concerns for the councils responsible for administering Victoria's planning system.
MAV President Cr Jennifer Anderson said Victoria's 79 councils have not been consulted on legislation that will dictate how our communities are shaped now and into the future.
"Local Government has not been consulted on this Bill. Instead of consulting the council planners whose job it will be to make the new provisions work, the State Government has chosen to impose those new provisions without testing them," Cr Anderson said.
"The Bill aims for faster decisions and greater certainty, but the closed-shop approach to reform risks inefficiency and mistakes. Ultimately, it risks the erosion of public trust in planning decisions and in government."
“Councils strongly support making Victoria's planning system more efficient and effective across metro Melbourne and throughout rural and regional Victoria.”
The MAV is concerned that several critical issues won’t be addressed and will require parliamentary attention.
According to MAV data, Victoria already has more than 100,000 dwellings approved by councils that remain unbuilt; not due to council blocking, but rather as a result of unfavourable market forces.
"Sixty activity centres are being rezoned for higher density development without any requirement for affordable homes. This precedent highlights the MAV’s concerns that this Bill will fail to address the real problem of housing affordability across the rest of Victoria.”
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape Victoria's future, and we need to ensure we get it right," Cr Anderson said.
The MAV is also concerned proposals to wind back notice provisions would remove a critical quality control mechanism, with local communities often providing important local knowledge.
"We’re calling for state and local governments to pull together as genuine partners, to ensure housing happens faster, better, and – most importantly – with community support," Cr Anderson said.
MAV CEO Kelly Grigsby said speed cannot come at the expense of quality and safety.
"We can't afford to compromise on climate resilience when one in four regional properties is projected to be uninsurable by 2030. Victorians need homes that can withstand floods, fires and extreme heat - not just fast approvals," Ms Grigsby said.
Ms Grigsby said the MAV is not asking to slow housing down, but to ensure proper consultation and partnership structures.
The MAV will work with the local government sector to understand the Bill and will release a Local Government position on this reform.