Government urged to provide more detail on housing statement

By Murray Silby

Sep 25, 2023

**More detail:** Beyond Housing chief executive Celia Adams would have liked a figure to be put on social housing developments in the Victorian Government’s housing statement.

“I can’t decide if it’s a good day.”

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The Victorian Government’s major housing statement has received a mixed response, with at least one social housing provider — BeyondHousing — saying the words must now be backed up with action.

“Lots of very big headlines and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the detail,” BeyondHousing chief executive Celia Adams said after the announcement.

On Wednesday, September 20, the Andrews Government released what it described as a “landmark package to boost housing supply and affordability in Victoria — representing the biggest shake-up to planning and housing reform in generations”.

The package included:

Building 800,000 homes — 80,000 a year — across the state over the next 10 years
Reforming Victoria’s planning system to clear a “backlog” of planning permits
Building homes closer to where people have the transport, roads, hospitals and schools they need
Giving tenants more certainty over their leases, living standards and finances, and resolving disputes faster to keep them out of VCAT
Rapidly accelerating the rollout of social and affordable homes across Victoria
Delivering a long-term plan on how the state grows and reviewing the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to build a planning system that works with Victorians

“There’s some specific announcements about making renting fairer, and I acknowledge that,” Ms Adams said.

“High-rise in metro areas, but that won’t help in regional areas.

“What is really light on is the number around social housing, what will be delivered.”

Ms Adams said in Greater Shepparton alone, 1400 individuals and families were on the priority waiting list.

“They need housing now,” she said.

In a community still reeling from last year’s floods, which forced many people out of their homes, on top of an existing housing crisis, Ms Adams said she would have liked to have seen figures to indicate those people had something to look forward to.

“I would like the government to provide some hope and optimism to those people,” she said.

“I would like to see dedicated funding for social and community housing in Shepparton and surrounds.

“I’d like some details on the number of social housing projects that are going to be developed and when they will be developed.”

Ms Adams welcomed the government’s plan to introduce a Short Stay Levy on the 36,000 short-stay accommodation places across the state, 47 per cent of which are in regional Victoria.

It said revenue generated from the levy would go to Homes Victoria to build and maintain social and affordable housing, with 25 per cent of the funds to be invested in regional Victoria.

Despite her questions, Ms Adams said she was hopeful further announcements would follow and more detail be released.

“I am hopeful a significant amount of housing will reach Shepparton,” she said.

“I think there will be processes and further details announced.

“I just hope the detail is forthcoming quickly.”

Since the State Government's announcement, it has said it will initiate due diligence, feasibility and design work projects in Shepparton, Seymour and Rochester for approximately 70 new social housing dwellings, with a mix of public and community housing, to provide homes for people affected by the 2022 floods.

It said it will also explore opportunities to buy pre-sale off-the-plan apartments in medium and high-density developments to boost Victoria’s social housing stock.