Media Release: PREMIER PLANS FOR NEW COMMUNITIES NOT JUST SUBDIVISIONS

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

DATE: Friday, August 3, 2007

PREMIER PLANS FOR NEW COMMUNITIES NOT JUST SUBDIVISIONS

Premier John Brumby today promised to create new communities rather than just subdivisions during a visit to the north-west suburb of Cairnlea today.

“One of the challenges we face is how to respond to Melbourne’s growth of 1000 people each week while driving a strong economy and liveable outer suburbs,” he said.

“Linking planning with development of stronger communities will put residents front and centre and make our new suburbs better places to live.”

Mr Brumby said Cairnlea was a great example of what the Government wanted to achieve through the new Department of Planning and Community Development.

When complete, Cairnlea will provide 3100 homes, primary and secondary schools, a neighbourhood shopping centre, business precinct, extensive parkland and community facilities.

The Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, said the new department would focus on streamlining the planning system across Victoria, and especially in Melbourne’s designated growth areas.

“By integrating planning decisions with the needs of the community and the services they require we can cut the time it takes to go from an unzoned piece of land to handing over the keys of a new house to a family,” Mr Madden said.

“Melbourne has the best land supply of any mainland capital city, with 10 years zoned supply in our growth areas, but we can always improve. Every month we can cut out of development process means savings for homebuyers.

“Under these changes Victoria will be even more competitive on housing affordability.

“But as well as cutting the cost of homes we want to work to make new suburbs better places to live.

“Melbourne 2030 means we plan by choice, not chance, and we aim to combine the ‘hard’ infrastructure of roads and pipes with the ‘soft’ infrastructure, like child care centres, schools and libraries that bring people together and starts to forge real, liveable communities.”

The Minister for Community Development, Peter Batchelor, said community involvement in planning could deliver results for everyone.

“For example, new services and facilities can be built around two town centres, helping build a sense of a main street that is often lacking in new housing estates,” he said.

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“All new buildings could have more than one use – enabling council and local schools to share the library, auditorium, child and maternal health services and sport centres.

“This is a better use of local assets and also enables communities, councils and developers to share the costs of new services, facilities and infrastructure.”

The new department will replace the Department of Victorian Communities and will include the divisions and authorities that currently report to the Minister for Planning within the Department of Sustainability and Environment.