Victoria’s Big Housing Build: Purchase Program launched.
The Andrews Government has committed to Australia’s biggest ever investment in public and community housing as part of its 2020/21 Victoria State Budget.
- This package will deliver a total of 12,000+ new homes, and support approx. 10,000 jobs per year over the next four years.
- Investment for public land development, spot purchase program from private sector, and new opportunities with private sector and community housing partners.
- System reforms including a 10-year strategy for social and affordable housing developed with the not-for-profit sector and industry; rolling 4-year supply and delivery plans offering guidance to the market; rate exemptions for social housing to mitigate loss of revenue; streamlined planning and an independent review of Victoria’s social housing regulatory system.
- A Purchase Program for in-progress & ready-to-build developments has been launched. DHHS has opened a tender process to purchase dwellings that can be delivered as turn-key properties for new social housing dwellings. Potential projects can be under construction and/or ready for construction. Proposals must be submitted no later than 2PM 17 December 2020.
Learn about the Homes Victoria Purchase Program DHHS Request for Proposal.
Read what we had to say in the media.
Read more about the announcement.
Suburban Rail Loop.
The Victorian Government has announced a budget boost to kick off the Suburban Rail Loop – $2.2 billion for initial and early works on Stage One of the project to run between Cheltenham and Box Hill, with the full project to eventually link every major train line between Frankston and Werribee via Melbourne Airport.
The proposed locations of six new train stations have also been revealed, with the new line to start near Southland, underneath Sir William Fry Reserve.
Other proposed stations are next to Monash and Deakin universities – central to the Box Hill and Glen Waverley activity centres – and north of Carinish Road in Clayton, where a transport super-hub will connect regional passengers to the loop.
UDIA Victoria CEO spoke to Channel 9 News to support the announcement, which represents a new era for the revival of Melbourne’s suburban landscape – giving Victorians more choice about how and where they want to live.
Read more from the Victorian Government.
Read the UDIA Victoria media release: Melbourne suburbs shine with Suburban Rail Loop investment.
Updated construction sector COVIDSafe Plan.
The Victorian Government has updated the COVIDSafe Plan for our sector online. The Plan, along with the current FAQs can be accessed here.
Members can continue to email the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions support team with any queries about restrictions and implementing COVIDSafe workplaces via email: icc@ecodev.vic.gov.auGo to the updated COVIDSafe Plan.
Liberal Opposition plan for recovery.
The Victorian Opposition has released their plan to get Victoria ‘back to work and back in business’.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals’ Back to Work Plan has a focus four key areas:
- Securing family finances
- Rebuilding opportunity for local business
- Investing in health and education
- Supporting communities
UDIA Victoria is reviewing the plan and will be engaging with both the Opposition and the Victorian Government as we identify the most positive initiatives for Victoria’s building, construction and development industry, and the communities we serve.
Learn more about the Liberal Nationals’ plan.
National Advocacy Alert: HomeBuilder.
UDIA National has unveiled a new industry survey designed to support an extension and re-design of HomeBuilder.
Key findings:
- 55 % of respondents saw their average monthly sales decline in the period from March-May 2020 (at the time of the initial COVID19 lockdowns), compared with the prior six months. Another 19.5% stagnated
- 91% of the industry saw an increase in average monthly sales from June to September 2020 once HomeBuilder was announced – including over half of all respondents enjoying a jump of more than 50%
- The industry on balance expects to sustain sales for the balance of calendar year of 2020 due to the upside of the Government’s stimulus measures
- Absent a continuation of HomeBuilder, almost 66% of the industry anticipate a significant drop in sales volumes in 2021
Read more about the survey results and national advocacy in action.
Have your say: planning controls for the Surf Coast.
The Victorian Government is seeking community feedback on stronger planning controls for the Surf Coast.
Last year parts of the Surf Coast Shire and the City of Greater Geelong were declared a state significant Distinctive Area Landscape, recognising the environmental and cultural heritage attributes of the area combined with its ability to draw tourists.
A draft Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) for the Surf Coast declared area is now available for public feedback, which includes proposed settlement boundaries for Torquay-Jan Juc, Bellbrae, Breamlea and Armstrong Creek.
Public consultation on the draft Surf Coast SPP is open from now until Friday 22 January 2021.
Click here for more information.
Bring your team together for an overdue catch up and a good cause.
The Property Industry Foundation (PIF) is making it easy for you to bring your team, friends or family together for a long overdue catch-up and a good cause.
On December 3, PIF is delivering a special virtual end-of-year fundraising event where all of us can help us make a difference to homeless youth in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
What happens on the night of Thursday 3 December:
- You sign in to the event from your office with your team, or perhaps from your home with friends and family. You cater your ‘pledge party’ with some champagne and nibbles to get into the festive and giving spirit.
- Three amazing projects that PIF will build in 2021 will be showcased. Each charity partner will speak about their programs and the difference a home or project built by us will make in young peoples’ lives.
- When the charities finish speaking the pledging can begin – we are expecting to see some competition across the industry between the different states! You can challenge others that are in the virtual room (list of attendees will be circulated prior).
Let’s show each other and the world that we care about helping young people out of homelessness.
