Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Preston development

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (19:55): (333) My adjournment tonight is seeking the action of the Minister for Planning, and the action I seek is a commitment from the minister to provide information on a timely approval of the Assemble Communities development in Preston. Housing affordability is one of the greatest challenges for many in my electorate. It is also one of the greatest challenges of my generation. Earlier this year a survey by Resolve Political Monitor found that more than 70 per cent of young people believe they will never own a home. The situation is more dire for those doing it tough in our community who could benefit from social and affordable housing. We know from countless studies and from an understanding of the principles of economics that the only practical way to improve housing affordability is having more supply. It is why it is so disappointing to see Darebin council dragging its feet on this development. Melbourne is in the middle of a housing crisis, and without developments like Assemble Communities’ proposal housing supply will never improve.

The Premier is very quick to – I think quite rightly – attack the Greens for holding up housing construction. He always says he will not take lectures from the Greens when they are blocking housing. However, the mayor of Darebin happens to be a Labor mayor, and I do not see the Premier criticising Darebin City Council on this front.

I was very pleased to join with the member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous MP, in the Age newspaper in support of this development. This development in Preston will provide 480 units for rent – a build-to-rent proposal – 20 per cent of which would be dedicated to social housing, 20 per cent for affordable housing and 3 per cent for disability accommodation. If there is an issue with height, the council should have sorted it quickly without endless nitpicking. It is on St Georges Road, right next to Bell train station, on a very popular tram route. If you are not going to build developments like this there, then where? You either support alleviating the pressures of the housing crisis or you do not. I seek action from the Minister for Planning to commit to providing information on a timely approval of the Assemble Communities development and to get on with the job of fixing Melbourne’s housing crisis.

The PRESIDENT: Dr Ratnam has been taken off the list – she will go tomorrow – so I can call everyone else.