The Victorian Government has announced a move to speed up housing development by cutting red tape around the rezoning of underused land. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has launched the Unlocking Strategic Sites pathway, a process designed to fast-track approvals and put more housing projects on track without long council delays.
The focus is on locations that have sat idle for years: disused golf courses, closed race tracks, surplus university land, and former industrial sites. Rather than leaving them tangled in bureaucracy, the new system allows the state government to step in if rezoning is stuck, with the aim of clearing the way for housing and jobs sooner.
“If land is ready for housing, it shouldn’t be stuck waiting years to be rezoned,” said Minister Kilkenny. “This pathway is about cutting delays and getting more homes built sooner and where we need them most.”
Under current planning procedures, rezoning through councils can take two years or more. The new pathway could halve that time. The initiative is part of Victoria’s wider Economic Growth Statement, which includes measures to support growth, create jobs, and unlock investment across key sectors.
“We’re making the planning system work harder to say yes to more homes and opportunities—so Victorians can find a place to call home sooner,” the Minister said.
The fast-tracked process will operate through the existing Development Facilitation Program, which has already cleared the way for more than 5,000 homes since late last year through its streamlined permit approvals.
Councils and developers are being encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest via the Engage Victoria website. To qualify, sites must meet requirements around location, scale, and delivery readiness, with confidence in project timelines a key factor.
The program is expected to benefit not only metropolitan areas but regional locations where rezoning delays have held back growth. It forms part of the government’s broader efforts to ease the housing shortage and support young people and families trying to enter the property market.
Further details and the Expression of Interest form are available at: engage.vic.gov.au/unlocking-strategic-sites-expression-of-interest.
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