Jennifer Pittorino
Maribyrnong council is disappointed with proposed changes to planning powers in Victoria following the release last week of a state government’s Housing Statement.
Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled the statement on September 20, detailing how the state government will clear a backlog of 1400 housing permit applications that have been stuck with councils for more than six months.
Residential developments worth over $50 million in Melbourne and $15 million in regional Victoria that set aside at least 10 per cent for social housing will be assessed by the planning minister rather than councils. The change aims to speed up application assessments from more than a year to four months.
Granny flats won’t require permits if they’re less than 60 square metres and there will also be new residential standards to allow council planners to quickly approve permits for houses that meet requirements.
Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said while she commends the government for the initiative, she is disappointed with the lack of control council will have over planning decisions.
“As we understand it, developers will have the option to come through council or the minister for significant developments,” she said.
“While we commend the government’s appetite to support additional housing provision, we are disappointed democratically elected councillors who represent their communities can be removed from the decision making process on significant planning applications that will shape our city.”
Cr Carter said the council continues to deal with the impacts of state intervention in significant planning applications with the former planning minister approving buildings more than double the height limit in Footscray’s Joseph Road precinct.
Cr Carter said the council looks forward to working with the Department of Transport and Planning to understand the impacts and the practical implementation of the statement and associated planning scheme amendment.
“Council receives 40-50 planning permit applications per month and has on average has less than 300 open applications at any one time with around 70 per cent determined within statutory time frames,“ Cr Carter said.
“Furthermore, there are 2424 dwellings and 28,000sqm of commercial floor space with planning permits within central Footscray alone which have not been acted upon.”
As part of the statement, the government said further work across 21 priority projects, including the Braybrook regeneration project, will continue to be developed to deliver more than 60,000 homes and 60,000 jobs.
Hobsons Bay mayor Tony Briffa said local government has not been fully consulted before these reforms were announced.
“As such, we don’t have a clear picture of how they will affect Hobsons Bay,“ she said.
“Hobsons Bay council has a long history of advocating for the delivery of safe social and affordable housing for our residents and we are keen to see details of how plans to renew high-rise public housing will impact the two facilities in Williamstown and their residents.“
