Recovery and Revival Plan for Melbourne’s CBD and Central City

Thought leadership piece by UDIA Victoria on the reopening and reactivation of Melbourne’s CBD and central city, in a COVIDSafe way. 

Victoria’s COVID-19 recovery depends on bringing our CBD and central city back to life.  We need the people, jobs and economic activity that our amazing city has in spades to supercharge our recovery.

This is our bold, proactive plan to bring our city back to life.

2020 Pre-Budget Submission

Pre-Budget Submission to the Victorian Government, recommending a solutions-oriented approach to planning and implementing Victoria’s urban development-led economic recovery.

In our submission, we highlight the role of Victoria’s building, construction and development industry as a key state employer and economic contributor.

We demonstrate that while our industry has taken a big hit due to COVID-19, with smart government support, Victoria’s building, development and construction sector is able, ready and willing to play a leading role in Victoria’s economic recovery.

Victorian Building Review Early Initiatives

Submission to the Chair and Commissioner for Better Regulation Anna Cronin, providing industry’s feedback to early initiatives for the Victorian Building Review. Our submission is structured around the following key initiatives being explored:

• Establish a centralised building consumer information and support service
• Introduce a new class of building surveyor
• Pathway to a project -based insurance in Victoria
• Promoting consumer awareness about building consultants
• Strengthen the role of the State Building Surveyor and clarify roles and responsibilities of building surveyors
• Support improvements in industry compliance
• Support training system reforms to increase the pipeline of building surveyors

Macaulay Structure Plan Refresh

Submission by UDIA Victoria to the City of Melbourne on the draft Macaulay Structure Plan, which provides a vision and framework for the growth and development of this important precinct that will spark investment and provide opportunity for more intensive development in the area.

Delivery timeframes for passive open space

Letter to the Mayor of Wyndham City Council Josh Gill regarding the intention for Council to develop a policy mandating the timeframe for delivery of open space. 

We are urging Council to maintain the existing process that has been effective in delivering open space in Wyndham for many years and are a meeting with the Mayor and Council to discuss the issue and our submission.

Support for extending permits

Joint letter by UDIA Victoria with the Property Council, to address the impact of delays on building, construction and development projects both under construction and soon to be commenced.

We have written to both the Planning Minister Richard Wynne, and Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane, asking Government to consider granting an extension of two years, to all current unexpired development permits issued by both State Government and local councils.

Electronic signing of contracts and deeds

Letter by UDIA Victoria to the Minister for Consumer Affairs requesting an extension to the COVID-19 measure to allow for the electronic signing of contracts and deeds to March 2021; and to consider making this measure permanent.

Reopen Display Homes, Lands Sales Offices, Sales Suites and Open-for Inspections

Joint letter to the Premier urging him to safely bring forward the reopening of display homes, land sales offices, sales suites and inspections.

Display homes, land sales offices, sales suites and inspections are currently closed completely in Metro Melbourne and open by appointment only in regional Victoria. These settings cannot reopen until 26 October at best. UDIA Victoria is calling for this date to be brought forward to 28 September, when we are advocating they should be able to re-open on an appointment basis.

Industry’s return to full capacity strategy

Strategy by UDIA Victoria with other peak bodies, sent to the Premier of Victoria and the Crisis Council of Cabinet for the building, development and construction industry to return to full capacity as soon as possible.

The correspondence and strategy paper provides an update on the proactive measures and initiatives our sector has actioned and planned within the limitations of the Stage 4 restrictions.

Most importantly, it demonstrates how and why our industry is equipped to return to the former Stage 3 restrictions. Should a more cautious health-based approach be required for returning to work, the strategy paper also presents joint proactive interim measures for consideration by the Victorian Government. 

Strategic Extractive Resource Areas Pilot Project

Submission by UDIA Victoria in response to the Strategic Extractive Resource Areas (SERA) pilot project initiative.

Our submission is most concerned with the potential impact of the proposed new planning controls on landholdings that have already been designated for a range of uses within the UGB, which are now challenged by the proposed suite of SERA controls. We are seeking a meeting with DELWP and VPA on this issue.

Maintain Essential Industry Status through Stage 4 Restrictions

Briefing Paper for the Victorian Government containing several key recommendations to enhance worksite measures including mandatory contact tracing consistently applied across the industry.

This Paper is part of our efforts to urge the Government to keep the industry open as an essential industry, but with enhanced worksite management practises and mandatory, consistent contact tracing.

Draft Arden Structure Plan

Submission by UDIA Victoria to the Victorian Planning Authority and the City of Melbourne on the preparation of the draft Arden Structure Plan (the Structure Plan).

The Structure Plan represents a large body of work and stakeholder involvement. It provides a preliminary vision and framework for the growth and development of this important precinct that will help to leverage Government’s investment in the new Melbourne Metro underground railway station and provide opportunity for more intensive development in the area.

Improving the timeliness of new electricity connections

Submission to the Essential Services Commission review of the timeliness of new electricity connections. 

The positions, recommendations and examples included within our submission provide a solid basis from which UDIA Victoria advocates for a modernised legislative and regulatory framework to govern the connection of electricity to new developments.

City of Greater Geelong’s draft Saleyards Precinct Strategy

Submission to the City of Greater Geelong’s draft Saleyards Precinct Strategy.
 
UDIA Victoria has a strong and active membership in Geelong and we are committed to playing a proactive and collaborative role in policy development on issues of importance to our membership and to the evolution of Geelong as Victoria’s second capital city.

City of Greater Bendigo’s draft Public Open Space Contributions Policy

Submission to the City of Greater Bendigo’s draft Public Open Space Contributions Policy.

Our active Bendigo Chapter is seeking the opportunity to discuss the submission with Council in the coming weeks as they look to finalise their approach.

Commonwealth Government HomeBuilder Package

Submission to the State Revenue Office by UDIA Victoria in collaboration with Master Builders Victoria, regarding finalisation of the HomeBuilder application and approval process.

Working to keep Victoria safe

Joint Paper to provide continuing confidence to the Premier and Crisis Council of Cabinet that, as representatives of the building, construction and development industry, our work alongside the Victorian Government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is our singular focus in the coming months, as we collaborate to protect our workers and community, and maintain a strong state and national economy.

Strategic Development Areas Infrastructure Contributions System

Submission by UDIA Victoria in response to the Government’s discussion paper on an Infrastructure Contribution Plan System for Strategic Redevelopment Areas.

The impact of gas connection policy on land development, housing
supply and house prices

Submission by UDIA Victoria in partnership with the Association of Land Development Engineers, modelling the impact of new requirement’s by Ausnet Gas.

Victoria’s Vacant Residential Land Tax

A case for reform: The vacant residential land tax (VRLT) took effect on 1 January 2018. It is a Victorian state tax levied on residential properties in Melbourne’s inner and middle suburbs which are unoccupied for more than six months either continuously or in aggregate in a calendar year.
As a result of the consequences of COVID-19 on the residential property sector, UDIA Victoria makes the case for the following recommendations:

1. Immediately stop the application of the VRLT for all new residential dwellings built within the last 2 years, under construction, and to be constructed between 2020 and the end of 2022.
2. Permanently exempt developers with unsold dwelling stock from the application of the VRLT by removing it from residential dwellings recently constructed and not yet sold or transferred as a result of market dynamics rather than by design.

City of Monash draft Affordable Housing Strategy

Submission in response to the City of Monash draft Affordable Housing Strategy.

City of Kingston draft Affordable Housing Strategy

Submission in response to the City of Kingston draft Affordable Housing Strategy.

Building Victoriass Recovery Taskforce extension

Letter to Treasurer Pallas and Minister Wynne to articulate our support for the work of the Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce and urging them to consider extending the Taskforce with a mandate focussed on implementation and supporting industry through the recovery period.

We have also urged them to consider establishing a Standing Advisory Committee comprised of industry members to provide advice and feedback from the sector to inform policy responses and decisions.

Draft Pako Street and Gordon Avenue Urban Design Framework

Submission to the Draft Pakington Street (Geelong West) & Gordon Ave Urban Design Framework March 2020

Social and economic stimulus for affordable housing

Submission by the Affordable Housing Industry Advisory Group Submission, of which UDIA Victoria is a key member, providing advice to inform the government’s consideration as to how new investment in Social and Affordable Housing could be structured.

Moreland Planning Scheme Amendment C190

Submission in response to Moreland City Council’s Planning Scheme Amendment C190 – Better Outcomes for Two Dwellings on a Lot.

Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Program – Bellarine Peninsula

Submission with regards to the Bellarine DAL Project, which we believe is likely to provide inflexible planning scheme changes that will be in place for the next 50 years and beyond.

Implementation of the Melbourne Industrial and Commercial Land Use Plan

Submission in response to the preparation and implementation of the Melbourne Industrial and Commercial Land Use Plan.

Post-Permit Fast-Track Process – Timely electricity connections for new developments

Submission urging the Victorian Government to fast-track initiatives that will establish robust, long-term accountability measures that will drive efficiencies, increase transparency and lift poor service standards across large- scale electricity distribution businesses.

Roadmap to Recovery

Plan for economic recovery in response to COVID-19, focused on: enabling more homebuyers to finally get a leg up in the housing market; Keeping hundreds of thousands of Victorians employed; and securing Victoria’s economic future for generations to come.

Reopening Display Homes, Lands Sales Offices, Sales Suites and Open-for-Inspections

Joint letter with other industry associations making the case for re-opening display homes, land sales offices, sales suites and open-for-inspections.

City of Melbourne Affordable Housing Strategy

Submission urging the City of Melbourne to give proper consideration to the difficulties facing the building, construction and development
industry as well as the housing market, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to delay progressing their draft Affordable Housing Strategy 2030 until at least 1 July 2021.

City of Greater Geelong Residential Zones

Submission expressing our concerns with the recently adopted position of the City of Greater Geelong in relation to their residential zones review.

COVID-19: Moratorium on Residential Development Levies and Policy Changes

Letter requesting a moratorium on any new policy settings or increased fees and charges that would have a material impact on the cost of producing housing, until the COVID-19 pandemic period has passed.

COVID-19: VCAT

Letter seeking the Planning Minister’s urgent assistance to keep planning and development applications moving through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Better Apartments Design Standards

Submission responding to the Draft Standards, Draft Guidelines and Practice Note released for consultation as part of the Building Better Apartment Design Standards consultation process.

APPENDIX B to UDIA Victoria’s COVID-19 Action Plan
Criteria to assess shovel-ready projects

Submission proposing a fast-track model for shovel-ready projects.

COVID-19 Action Plan

Action Plan by UDIA Victoria for all levels of government and Victoria’s building, construction and development industry. The Action Plan calls for immediate action to keep more Victorians in jobs during each phase of the state’s response to the coronavirus crisis.

2020 Pre-Budget Submission

Submission for the consideration of the Victorian Government in the lead up to the 2020 Budget.

Infrastructure Contribution Plan System for Greenfield Development Settings

Submission regarding the policy development and implementation of the Infrastructure Contribution Plan system.

Distinctive Areas and Landscape Program

Policy position setting out a consolidated position on the processes employed across the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes program, and calls for a suite of actions in response.

Planning Mechanisms for Affordable Housing

Letter to the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Planning Mechanisms for Affordable Housing.

Environment Protection Regulations and Environment Reference Standards

Letter providing feedback on the proposed Environment Protection Regulations and Environment Reference Standards, associated with the Environment Protection Act 2018, which will come into effect on 1 July 2020.

Review into Victoria’s Building and Planning Approvals Process and Early Building Works Infrastructure

Submission in response to the Planning and Building Approvals Process Review Discussion Paper, and in particular the eighty-one proposed improvements that specifically relate to planning approvals.

Planning Mechanisms for Affordable Housing

Submission providing input to the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Planning Mechanisms for Affordable Housing, examining possible models and options to facilitate the supply of affordable housing in Victoria.

Building Better Apartments in Neighbourhoods

Submission in response to the Building Better Apartments in Neighbourhoods Discussion Paper and consultation
process.

Melbourne Strategic Assessment (Environment Mitigation Levy) Bill 2019

Letter providing a position on the Victorian Government’s
Melbourne Strategic Assessment (Environment Mitigation Levy) Bill 2019.

Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Bill 2019

Letter providing our views regarding the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Bill 2019.

Build to Rent  

Preliminary position with respect to the emergence of a BTR asset class in Victoria.

Red Tape Review (Planning and Building Approvals Process Review)

Submission in response to the Review into Victoria’s
Building and Planning Approvals Process and Early Building Works Infrastructure.

Proposed Planning Scheme Amendment C308: Central City and Southbank Urban Design

Submission to the Panel in the matter of Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendment C308.

Proposed Planning Scheme Amendment C309 re: West Melbourne Structure Plan

Submission in response to the proposed Planning Scheme Amendment C309 – West Melbourne Structure Plan.

Budget Recommendations

Pre-Budget Submission for the Victorian Government in lead up to the 2019 State Budget.

ESC Enquiry into electricity connections: Brownfied Sites

Submission providing direct feedback in relation to issues faced in brownfield development settings.

Response to Infrastructure Contributions Plan – Regional Greenfield Areas

Submission by UDIA Victoria providing further feedback regarding the proposed Infrastructure Contributions Plans for Regional Greenfield Areas (RGAs).

UDIA Victoria acknowledges some form of development contribution is required for RGAs. We reiterate that this contribution should not be expected to fully fund all the infrastructure required, and that the contribution should be fair and equitable to the extent that is reasonably possible.

Proposed Planning Scheme Amendment C308: Central City and Southbank Urban Design

Submission in response to the proposed Planning Scheme Amendment C308 (PSA C308).

Inquiry into the proposed long-term lease of the land titles and registry functions of Land Use Victoria

Submission in response to the proposed long-term lease of the land titles and registry functions of Land Use Victoria.

ESC Enquiry into electricity connections

Submission to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) to help inform the investigation into the practices of distribution businesses that connect electricity to Victoria’s new property developments.

Long-term lease of Land Use Victoria functions

Submission in response to the proposed long-term lease of the land titles and registry functions of Land Use Victoria.

Geelong Settlement Strategy

Submission to the Geelong City Council in response to their Settlement Strategy.

Garden Area Requirements, Amendment VC143

Policy Position relating to Amendment VC143, which was approved by the Minister of Planning and came into operation on Tuesday, 15 May 2018.

2018-19 Victoria State Budget

Summary Sheet of the key elements of the 2018-19 Victoria State Budget for industry.

ESC Water Price Review: Coliban Water

Submission to the Essential Service Commission water price review process (Coliban Water Draft Decision).

UDIA Victoria Presentation to Planning Panels on Fishermans Bend

Script of the UDIA Presentation to Planning Panels in relation to Fishermens Bend.

SRO regarding GAIC certificate delays

Letter to the Commissioner of the State Revenue Office regarding delays in providing GAIC payment certificates.

ESC Western Water Draft Decision

Submission to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) on the draft decision regarding the Western Water price submission for the 2018-2020 period.

2018-19 Pre-Budget Recommendations

Submission to the Victorian Treasurer for consideration in the 2018-19 State Budget.

Revocation of Planning Scheme Amendments

Policy Position on the deliberate use of parliamentary processes and voting to revoke approved amendments to Victoria’s Planning Scheme.

Native Vegetation Rules

Policy Position on revisions to the native vegetation clearing regulations.

Smart Planning Discussion Paper

Submission to DELWP in response to the Smart Planning, Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions Discussion Paper.

Draft Plan Greater Bendigo

Submission in response to the Draft Plan Greater Bendigo and Draft Plan Greater Bendigo Implementation Plan process.

Fishermans Bend Draft Framework

Submission in response to the Fishermans Bend Framework draft for consultation.

Changes to Bushfire Management Rules

Policy Position on Planning Scheme Amendment VC140, which relies on the updated Bushfire Management Overlay maps (GC13).

Garden Area Requirements

Submission relating to the Garden Area Requirement introduced in March 2017.

Post-PSP Inefficiencies

Confidential Submission

Water Price Review Process

Submission

Land Use Victoria 5-Day Subdivision Registration Process

Submission

Advancing Land-Use Planning Approaches to Facilitate Affordable Housing

Submission

Geelong Settlement Strategy

Submission

Aboriginal Heritage Regulations Review

Submission

Interim Report of the Liberal National Coalition’s Victorian Population Policy

Submission

Working Draft: Garden Space Area Requirements

Submission

Building Regulations Sunset Review

Letter of Submission 

Planning and Building Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability) Bill 2017

UDIA Victoria Policy Submission

Planning for Golf in Victoria

UDIA Victoria Policy Submission

City of Greater Bendigo Housing Strategy Implementation Plan

UDIA Victoria Policy Submission

Making Growth Areas Infrastructure Contributions (GAIC) work

UDIA Policy Position

Plan Bendigo

UDIA Victoria Submission

Value Capture

UDIA Victoria Policy Position 

Strengthening Discretionary Height Provisions

UDIA Victoria Policy Position 

Plan Melbourne

UDIA Victoria Advocacy Memo

Infrastructure Victoria: Draft 30-year Infrastructure Strategy and Value Capture

UDIA Victoria Policy Paper

Plan Melbourne

UDIA Victoria Advocacy Memo

Better Apartments Draft Design Standards

UDIA Victoria Submission

Enabling Arterial Roads Package for Melbourne’s Growth Areas

UDIA Victoria Policy Position

Better Apartments Discussion Paper

UDIA Victoria Submission

Regulatory Impact Assessment: Review of Planning and Subdivision Fees

UDIA Victoria Policy Paper 

Central City Built Form Review Amendment C270

UDIA Victoria Policy Submission

Apartment Amenity Design Measures

UDIA Victoria Policy Submission

Managing Residential Development – ‘State of Play’

UDIA Victoria Policy Submission

Plan Melbourne Refresh 2015

UDIA Victoria Policy Submission