More homes mean more opportunity - that's why the Allan Labor Government is changing rules to deliver more homes for young people and workers where they want to live, near transport, jobs and services.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny visited Frankston today to share the updated plans for the Government's first 10 Pilot Activity Centres, which will help deliver 60,000 homes in suburban areas by 2051.
Plans for these Pilot Activity Centres have been updated following two rounds of extensive community consultation, engaging with more than 10,000 people, councils and other key groups - with key changes made.
Subject to gazettal, the plans will take effect next month. They are all about building more homes where they make sense: more homes and fast approvals in busy commercial precincts, with lower and gentler height limits for the residential area surrounding.
The 10 Pilot Activity Centres are in Broadmeadows, Camberwell Junction, Chadstone, Epping, Frankston, Moorabbin, Niddrie, North Essendon, Preston (High Street), and Ringwood.
Updated plans and outcome of community feedback
The 10 Pilot Activity centres will deliver more homes. The plans for each have evolved in response to feedback from the community - including boundary reductions and lower height limits.
Activity centres still contain a 'core' (the busy, commercial precinct where taller buildings are suitable) and a walkable 'catchment' in the streets surrounding (where gentler, low-rise development is preferred).
Under the previous draft plans, all proposed catchment areas had a four-storey height limit - with scope for up to six storeys on large blocks that are more than 1,000 square meters and have 20 metres of street frontage.
Under the updated plans, catchment areas will be split into two: inner and outer. Inner catchments are closer to the core and will have the same four-storey limit, or up to six storeys on larger blocks. Outer catchments are farther from the core and will have a new three-storey limit, or up to four storeys on larger blocks.
It means maximum heights keep scaling down as you move away from shops and transport, instead of staying flat. That's what gentle density is all about.
Catchment boundaries have also been reduced in most centres, following local feedback and a closer, street-by-street and step-by-step analysis of what constitutes a 10-minute walk from the core.
In the core, maximum heights continue to apply for developments using the fast-tracked 'deemed to comply' process. A maximum of 10 storeys will apply in the core in Niddrie, North Essendon and Preston. A maximum of 12 storeys will apply in the core in Broadmeadows, Camberwell, Chadstone, Epping and Moorabbin.
Taller maximums apply in the core in Ringwood (20 storeys) and Frankston (16 storeys) because this is what local councils asked for as part of their own long-term planning.
Applications that exceed these heights are not eligible for the fast-tracked 'deemed to comply' process.
Other changes include new rules to support tree planting on larger sites and stronger controls to protect sunlight and prevent overshadowing of parks and open spaces.
What hasn't changed under the plans is this: there will be more homes in these areas, and there will be fast-tracked approvals in the core, because above all, Victorians tell us they want housing near jobs, transport and services.
More homes mean more funding for infrastructure
To ensure these areas continue to have the local infrastructure they need as they grow, developers building new homes in the Pilot Activity Centres will be required to make a contribution from 1 January 2027. Contributions will go towards works like road and path upgrades, parks and open space, community facilities and more.
This was announced in October 2024 as a step in the Government's ambitions to deliver one, clear and standardised developer contributions system across the state to replace the current hodge-podge regime. The Government is currently engaging with the leadership of the sector on the next steps in this proposed system.
What's next
In October 2024, the Labor Government also announced 50 'train and tram zone' Activity Centres across established suburbs to help build an additional 300,000 homes by 2051. The Government will have more to say soon about the 50 new train and tram zones - including locations and when consultation will begin on the program.
The 10 Pilot Activity Centres will take effect next month subject to gazettal. Victorians can review these plans at planning.vic.gov.au/activitycentres
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"The status quo won't cut it. There is only one way out of the housing crisis - build our way out."
"We want more homes for young people and workers close to jobs, transport, and services - so they can live where they want, near the things they need and the people they love."
"Fearmongering politicians claimed we wouldn't consult or make changes that reflect the community's wishes. Here is the evidence that we have - and we will."
As stated by Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny
"This is about giving young Victorians who are locked out of the housing market the opportunity their parents had."
As stated by Member for Frankston Paul Edbrooke
"We upgraded Frankston Station, and when the Metro Tunnel opens later this year, the Frankston Line will return to the City Loop, creating capacity for more trains, more often - making Frankston a great place for more homes."
