$162.5 million to support Victoria’s liveable communities

“The Brumby Labor Government has announced key planning reforms to speed up housing, investment and jobs, which are crucial to seeing Victorians through the Global Financial Crisis by stimulating jobs and economic activity."

05/05/2009

A $162.5 million Brumby Labor Government 2009 State Budget planning reform package will generate more jobs by supporting local councils, addressing blockages in the planning system; and directing commercial business development to key activity hubs.

The Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, said the crucial reforms would create thousands of jobs by unlocking private sector investment through fast-tracked approvals and providing greater certainty for commercial business development.

“The Brumby Labor Government is providing strong leadership to deliver jobs now in tough global times and build for the future, with this budget alone securing up to 35,000 Victorian jobs,” Mr Madden said.

“The Brumby Labor Government will work in partnership with local government and the community to maximise social, environmental and economic outcomes of business and housing developments.”

Mr Madden said the initiatives in the 2009 State Budget to support councils, jobs and development include:

• $62.9 million for Broadmeadows Central Activities District (CAD) to accelerate the revitalisation of Broadmeadows as Melbourne’s northern capital over the next 20 to 30 years. This will fund an upgrade to the train station and bus facilities, new leisure facilities, housing demonstration projects and a new “green spine” pedestrian and cycling path to connect the residential areas with the town centre;
• $17.4 million for the development of the Broadmeadows Government Services Building to co-locate local offices of the departments of Human Services, Justice and Education and Early Childhood Development, together with Centrelink to provide a one-stop-shop for social support services for the people of Melbourne’s northern region;
• $19.7 million has been allocated to other projects in CADs and employment corridors with the priorities being planning projects in Box Hill, Ringwood and Footscray. This will create government employment to help develop business and project cases, as well as streetscape works;
• $10.4 million for a new online planning application process which will slash the red-tape associated with planning applications, make the permit process cheaper, reduce the cost of developments and assist councils and planning authorities process permit applications more quickly, bringing jobs into local communities faster;
• $5.8 million for Creating Better Places and Expert Assistance Programs – a boost for local councils to complete planning for Metropolitan Activity Centres and key regional towns, making them more attractive for private sector investment and creating jobs in the process. The funding extends these two successful programs, which will provide grants for councils to complete structure plans, and employ place managers dedicated to a particular centre to drive implementation of structure plans and initiatives on the ground;
• $3.2 million to fund the DPCD Development Facilitation Unit which assists proponents and councils with private sector development projects on a case-by-case basis and advises the Minister for Planning on appropriate actions to fast-track and call-in projects. It mediates between councils, the development industry and government to ensure good developments are fast-tracked and jobs and housing can be delivered more quickly;
• $2 million over two years to establish and run the Development Assessment Committees (DACs) which will assist state and local governments to establish strong partnerships in making key planning decisions of shared state, regional, metropolitan and local government significance. Initially DACs will assess applications in Camberwell, Central Geelong, Preston (High St), Coburg and Doncaster Hill, before being rolled out across the remaining Principal Activity Centres and areas of state significance;
• As announced last year, $39.1 million has been allocated to the Stage 1 Ringwood Central Activities District over four years to revitalise Ringwood’s town centre which will also help create more than 1,400 construction jobs and more than 1,500 ongoing jobs in the retail and office sectors;
• $1 million to implement the final year of the Government’s heritage strategy, including the provision of grants to repair and restore heritage places and objects, creating jobs for Victorians; and
• $1 million over two years to preserve Victoria’s important Aboriginal cultural heritage by facilitating planning approval for projects involving Aboriginal cultural heritage.

“The 2009 State Budget builds on our Government’s proud record of committing more than $600 million in urban renewal projects across Victoria, to revitalise communities and neighbourhoods and make Victoria a more liveable state,” Mr Madden said.

“The Brumby Labor Government has announced key planning reforms to speed up housing, investment and jobs, which are crucial to seeing Victorians through the Global Financial Crisis by stimulating jobs and economic activity.

“We will continue to provide resources to ensure Victoria maintains its unrivalled liveability as we grow; cut red tape across the planning system; and secure jobs for Victorian families.”