- Published:
- Friday 15 February 2019
More than 50,000 new homes will be built across land to be released over the next four years, improving Melbourne’s housing affordability and creating jobs in growth areas.
The Andrews Labor Government is planning for 12 new communities to sustain Melbourne’s 15-year land supply, which is critical for keeping house and land packages affordable.
Detailed planning work will include a mixture of employment, residential and mixed-use neighbourhoods to allow residents to work locally, minimising commutes and allowing families to go to school and work close to home.
The new communities could support up to 50,000 jobs when complete, including more than 20,000 in a new employment precinct in Officer and more than 13,000 jobs near Kalkallo and Beveridge.
The Victorian Planning Authority designs new communities with local town centres, cycle and walking paths, schools and infrastructure.
The next swathe of land release follows the Labor Government’s successful release of almost 100,000 lots by the end of 2018, marking a significant boost to housing affordability.
The 12 new communities will be located across outer Melbourne in corridors the VPA has identified as ripe for more housing, near Craigieburn, Beveridge, Wallan, Officer, Kororoit, Cranbourne and Point Cook.
More than 48,000 first home buyers across Victoria have benefited from stamp duty exemptions and concessions, saving first time buyers more than $850 million.
In the 18 months to the end of 2018, more than 12,000 Victorians have received first home owner grants to break into the housing market, taking the number of first-time buyers to levels unseen since 2010.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
“We’re making it easier for people to buy a home in Melbourne – with stamp duty discounts for first home buyers and new communities for people to make their home.”
“These new suburbs will be places people want to live because we’re investing more than any Government in Victoria’s history in infrastructure, schools and other vital services our growing city needs.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning Richard Wynne
“This is about creating jobs closer to where people live to cut commute times and let people live closer to work, schools and services.”
“These new communities will be well connected and serviced, with the employment opportunities, parks, schools and transport that will make them terrific places to live.”