Housing Statement Update 4 March 2024

Following the announcement of Victoria’s Housing Statement in September 2023, there have been movements within the Victorian State Government to fulfil its commitments. With an aim of building 800,000 homes over ten years between 2024 – 2034, it is considered a landmark package of policies from the Labor Government to overcome statewide housing supply and affordability issues. The statement is being implemented in tandem with the federal government’s National Housing Accord, an initiative with common goals to build 1.2 million dwellings nationwide as spearheaded by the Albanese Government in coordination with the states and territories. With the policies of the Housing Statement requiring extensive planning and housing reforms across numerous councils in metropolitan, regional, and rural Victoria, it is encouraging to see that progress has been made by both councils and the state government.

The REIV has received confirmation that the Department of Transport and Planning has developed a case management team that has been resourced to assist local councils getting good planning and housing decisions made more quickly. The case management teams will focus on speeding up residential projects with developmental costs that are greater than $10 million which have been within the planning system for more than six months. Subject to eligibility criteria and requests from a council, developer, or other government agency, the case management team can become involved to assist in expediting a building project. This request for consideration can be initiated by visiting the Department of Transport and Planning website.

The case management team’s role is to proactively work with developers, councils, and agencies to facilitate resolutions blocking planning and housing decisions by:

• convening relevant parties to work together towards a solution,

• establishing an agreed mediation process,

• coordinating the key steps required to finalise a determination,

• liaising between the responsible authority and applicant, and,

• when needed, and in a clearly defined set of circumstances, recommending the Minister for Planning use legislative call-in and/or intervention powers to make a decision.

The case management team will not make any determination or approval of projects and will instead provide independent support services to expediate applications. The case management may contact council planning officers to assist in moving projects along and look forward to collaboratively working with key stakeholders. The REIV welcomes the establishment of the case management team and looks forward to further progress on Victoria’s Housing Statement.