Today, the Victorian Liberals and Nationals announced a new plan to get more homes built sooner by cutting red tape from Victoria's planning system.
Under the Allan Labor Government, delays and inefficiencies throughout the planning system are acting as a handbrake on development and further undermining confidence in Victoria's residential construction sector.
Uncertainty of time frames and costs through Victoria's cultural heritage process, as well as delays within Government authorities, are stalling development and ultimately seeing fewer new homes built.
Therefore, to get more homes built sooner and give every Victorian the best opportunity to own their own home, a future Pesutto Government will:
- Establish clear timelines and costs for cultural heritage processes, with a Schedule of Fees to be released annually.
- Mandate approval timeframes for cultural heritage where undefined timeframes exist (except the initial 14-day timeframe for response to a notice of intent by a Registered Indigenous Party).
- Commit to an annual, published audit of cultural heritage approvals linked to housing development.
- Establish clear timelines, costs, and institute annual performance audits for Melbourne Water in its approval authority role.
This announcement is the first step in a series of reforms aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis that has steadily worsened for a decade under Labor.
Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, said: "My team is committed to providing every Victorian with the best opportunity to own their own home.
"Under Labor, Victoria's planning system is tied-up in red tape – meaning fewer homes and higher prices.
"These are commonsense reforms that will speed up approvals, provide greater certainty for our construction sector and ultimately contribute to getting more homes built sooner."
Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, said: "The State Labor Government promised to build thousands of new homes but instead caused the property sector to go backwards.
"The fact is that industry cannot build the new homes we need when the Labor Government is strangling the sector with red tape and bureaucratic delays.
"By streamlining approval processes and establishing clear guidelines for timeframes, our plan will get more homes signed off sooner and help restore confidence in Victoria's residential construction sector."
