The Victorian division of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA Victoria) has congratulated the reelected Andrews Government and welcomed the strong mandate for its very important infrastructure agenda. 
 
At the time of publication, 70% of votes have been counted. Labor look to have won 52 seats out of 88 in the Lower House with 8 seats still to be called, and 19 seats in the Upper House.  
 
The Suburban Rail Loop, the desperately needed investment in Victoria’s road network, and the solid pipeline of schools and services investment has been welcomed warmly by the urban development industry.
 
UDIA Victoria has also called on the re-elected Andrews Government to tackle regulatory barriers across the housing and infrastructure delivery processes, which are hampering the industry’s ability to deliver the housing supply and infrastructure needed to accommodate Victoria’s growing population. 
 
We have identified the Top 5 priorities for the Andrews Government to focus on in the next 12 months to support the development industry:   

1. Secure the housing supply pipeline by taking immediate action to assess the current Precinct Structure Plans and permit applications in the Fishermans’ Bend Urban Renewal Precinct awaiting approval.
2. Promote Victoria as an investment destination for the property and development industries and take early steps to outline the industry’s role in major infrastructure projects including the Suburban Rail Loop so that planning controls and value capture mechanisms are known early and investment can be made with certainty.
3. Take immediate action to address post-planning delivery constraints and enable the development industry to convert land supply into new lots for housing in our growth areas. 
4. Take ownership of population growth planning and establish a Victorian Population and Demographics Centre to accurately forecast and monitor population growth, and inform government investment decisions. 
5. Undertake an evidence-based review of built form design controls

UDIA Victoria’s work with the Andrews Government will continue to be guided by our 2018-19 Advocacy Agenda and the priorities of our active Advocacy Committees and Board.

Read on for our list of Labor’s key election commitments relevant to the industry.

Planning reform

• Review of the Better Apartment Design Guidelines
• Continuation of the Smart Planning process
• Benchmarking council planning processes

Housing

• Confirmed commitment to release the rest of the 100,000 lots promised by the end of 2018
• Investment of $209 million into creation of 1,000 new public housing units

Road infrastructure

• Continuation of the West Gate Tunnel
• Construction of the North East Link – linking M80 Ring Road from Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway. A tender process has today begun for the $15.8 billion project, expected to be completed by 2027.

Public Transport Infrastructure

• Planning for Suburban Rail Loop to start 2019, construction commencing 2022. 12 new stations, connections to the Airport link. $50+ billion
• Completion of an additional 25 rail level crossing removals by 2025, costed at $6.6 billion
• Airport Rail Link through Sunshine, total cost $8-13 billion. commitment for Victoria to match Federal funding. Construction to commence this term of Government.
• Continuation of the Regional Rail Revival program combined Western Rail Plan to see the electrification of the Melton line, and Wyndham Vale as part of the Suburban Rail Loop.
• $100 million towards business case and technical studies for the full separation of metro and regional services on the Geelong and Ballarat lines, providing greater connectivity for growth areas.  
• $50 million for Stage 3 of the Bendigo Metro line to be completed by 2023.

Social and Green Infrastructure

• Schools construction package – $850 million committed to open 100 new schools (45 within this term of government), with kindergartens constructed with every new primary school.
• $400 million to the non-government schools sector for schools upgrades
• Suburban Parks Package - $150 million for 6500+ hectares of parkland – many of these servicing growth areas
• Significant investment in health infrastructure, with community hospital upgrades, new Ambulance stations, business case and planning for a new Melton Hospital, upgrades to emergency departments to provide for paediatric care.