The Victorian Liberals and Nationals have rolled out a fresh strategy aimed at expediting home construction by reducing bureaucratic hurdles in Victoria’s planning system. According to the opposition, the current Allan Labor Government’s planning delays and inefficiencies are hampering development and diminishing confidence in the state’s residential construction sector.
The Liberal and National parties have pinpointed the uncertainty in time frames and costs linked to Victoria’s cultural heritage processes, along with sluggish responses from government authorities, as key factors stalling development and limiting the construction of new homes.
To counter these issues and enhance homeownership opportunities for Victorians, a prospective Pesutto Government proposes the following measures:
- Establishing clear timelines and costs for cultural heritage processes, with an annually updated Schedule of Fees.
- Mandating approval timeframes for cultural heritage where none currently exist, excluding the initial 14-day response period to a notice of intent by a Registered Indigenous Party.
- Committing to an annual, published audit of cultural heritage approvals related to housing development.
- Setting clear timelines, costs, and annual performance audits for Melbourne Water in its approval authority capacity.
- This initiative marks the beginning of a series of reforms aimed at tackling the housing affordability crisis, which has reportedly worsened over the past decade under the Labor administration.
John Pesutto, Leader of the Opposition, expressed his team’s dedication to making homeownership more accessible for every Victorian. He criticised the current planning system under Labor for being bogged down in red tape, resulting in fewer homes and increased prices. Pesutto labelled the proposed changes as “commonsense reforms” that will expedite approvals, provide more certainty for the construction sector, and ultimately lead to the quicker construction of new homes.
Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, echoed Pesutto’s sentiments, accusing the State Labor Government of stalling the property sector despite promises to build thousands of new homes. He highlighted the difficulties the industry faces in meeting housing needs due to bureaucratic delays. Newbury asserted that the proposed plan, by streamlining approval processes and establishing clear guidelines for timeframes, will accelerate home approvals and help restore confidence in Victoria’s residential construction sector.
Labor’s perspective on this issue, as reflected in their public statements, emphasises the importance of thorough cultural heritage assessments to protect Indigenous heritage. Labor representatives argue that streamlining processes should not come at the expense of these important considerations. They maintain that their planning system reforms focus on balanced development that respects both cultural heritage and the need for new housing.
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