Thursday, 2 May 2024

Local government planning

Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:03): (510) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Planning or Minister for Local Government. Builders across Victoria tell me that burdensome, illogical and pointlessly expensive local government planning processes and levies are stopping them from building houses. They estimate that in Victoria it takes them two to three years to get a project to the market, where they often have to add on an extra 10 per cent just to cover costs, whereas in South Australia the same projects would take half the time and add as little as 3 per cent to the market price.

Local government planning applications are required to meet stringent criteria, but objections to them are not. They are not screened for political or financial conflicts of interest or genuine impact, and if the number of objections hits a certain threshold the decision is transferred to councillors. So although a planning application that costs tens of thousands of dollars meets local and state government planning and building criteria, it can be rejected by a subjective vote of councillors. The case then goes to VCAT, where standards of evidence are once again paramount, and the permit is granted. Will the minister ensure that local government planning applications are granted on objective criteria or not?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:04): Thank you, Mrs Deeming, for that question. I will seek an answer for you from the Minister for Planning in the other place in accordance with the standing orders.

Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:04): For the same minister, will the minister rein in the cost of building houses and other important local projects like childcare centres by ensuring that any fees or levies imposed on developers are required to meet a test for genuine cost recovery for services rendered by council?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:05): Thank you, Mrs Deeming, for that supplementary. Again, I will seek an answer from the Minister for Planning in accordance with the standing orders.