Latest news with #HousingStatement
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The suburbs set to be transformed by minister's sweeping powers
More than 70 major housing, energy and commercial projects have been approved by the Victorian government, bypassing local councils and sidestepping residents' objections. An analysis by The Age has found at least 40 more developments are in the pipeline for ministerial approval through the Development Facilitation Program, which allows Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to 'call in' and approve projects regardless of local opposition, including a proposed waste-to-energy-powered office tower in Cremorne. The property industry has lauded the bolstered ministerial powers as a critical way to accelerate housing supply and investment, but councils are demanding an urgent review and claim there is no evidence it has sped up the construction of new homes. Projects already approved under the program include an 18-storey, 400-home apartment building in Collingwood, which Yarra City Council had opposed. Property Council Victoria executive director Cath Evans said the DFP was a 'critically important' pathway to accelerate housing approvals and address blockages in development and construction. 'While this has been a positive initiative, there remain significant overall delays in planning approvals and red tape, such as the lengthy wait times many in the industry are facing on essential infrastructure delivery, such as water and power,' she said. According to the state government, its DFP pathway has approved 4802 homes since the launch of the Housing Statement in September 2023, when then-premier Daniel Andrews set a target of building 800,000 homes in Victoria over the next 10 years. The government can use the bolstered program to fast-track developments and bypass local councils based on several criteria, including a significant economic contribution, inclusion of affordable housing, or high-quality design and sustainability.
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
The suburbs set to be transformed by minister's sweeping powers
More than 70 major housing, energy and commercial projects have been approved by the Victorian government, bypassing local councils and sidestepping residents' objections. An analysis by The Age has found at least 40 more developments are in the pipeline for ministerial approval through the Development Facilitation Program, which allows Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to 'call in' and approve projects regardless of local opposition, including a proposed waste-to-energy-powered office tower in Cremorne. The property industry has lauded the bolstered ministerial powers as a critical way to accelerate housing supply and investment, but councils are demanding an urgent review and claim there is no evidence it has sped up the construction of new homes. Projects already approved under the program include an 18-storey, 400-home apartment building in Collingwood, which Yarra City Council had opposed. Property Council Victoria executive director Cath Evans said the DFP was a 'critically important' pathway to accelerate housing approvals and address blockages in development and construction. 'While this has been a positive initiative, there remain significant overall delays in planning approvals and red tape, such as the lengthy wait times many in the industry are facing on essential infrastructure delivery, such as water and power,' she said. According to the state government, its DFP pathway has approved 4802 homes since the launch of the Housing Statement in September 2023, when then-premier Daniel Andrews set a target of building 800,000 homes in Victoria over the next 10 years. The government can use the bolstered program to fast-track developments and bypass local councils based on several criteria, including a significant economic contribution, inclusion of affordable housing, or high-quality design and sustainability.
