Insights Library
The Minister confirms the VPA’s priorities for 2023/24 to deliver housing and jobs
Towards the end of 2023, the Minister for Planning (Minister) approved the Victorian Planning Authority’s (VPA) 2023/2024 Business Plan (Business Plan), setting out key priorities and initiatives to help meet the Victorian government’s housing, jobs and infrastructure objectives.
Accompanying the Business Plan, the Minister issued the VPA with a Ministerial Direction, pursuant to section 36(1) of the Victorian Planning Authority Act 2017 (Vic) outlining the Minister’s Statement of Expectations up until 30 June 2024. View the Business Plan and Ministerial Direction here.
The Business Plan will see the VPA focus on delivering 21 priority Precinct Structure Plans (PSP) which are expected to facilitate the delivery of over 60,000 new homes and 60,000 jobs. It also includes the expansion of the VPA’s established Melbourne Program through the provision of planning advice and technical services to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to prepare activity centre plans for 10 metropolitan Melbourne activity centres identified in Victoria’s Housing Statement – the decade ahead 2024-2034 (Housing Statement).
Supporting the Housing Statement
The Business Plan has been developed to align with and support the implementation of the Housing Statement, which sets a target of the delivery of 80,000 new homes annually over the next decade.
Key 2023/24 Business Plan priorities:
The key priorities for the VPA’s 2023/2024 Business Plan include:
Regional Victoria – nine projects to enable approximately 23,000 new homes and 6,000 jobs.
These include seven Tier 1 projects and two Tier 2 projects:
Tier 1 (Housing Statement priority projects):
- Wonthaggi North East PSP (to be completed in 2023/24)
- Ballarat Infrastructure and Growth Alignment Framework (IGAF)
- Shepparton South East PSP
- Corio Norlane Renewal Strategy
- Bannockburn South East PSP
- East of Aberline PSP
- Ballarat North PSP
Tier 2 (projects that are progressing subject to technical studies being undertaken and completed across government to determine appropriate next steps):
- Merrimu PSP
- Parwan PSP
Industrial Land – seven priority precinct plans focused on commercial and industrial uses to provide capacity for approximately 50,000 jobs comprising:
- Officer South Employment PSP
- Greater Avalon Employment PSP
- Casey Fields South Employment PSP
- Crosskell Employment PSP
- Merrifield North (due diligence)
- Mambourn East (due diligence)
- Werribee Junction (due diligence)
Established Melbourne – the provision of planning advice to DTP to introduce planning controls for 10 metropolitan activity centres:
- Broadmeadows
- Camberwell Junction
- Chadstone
- Epping
- Frankston
- Moorabbin
- Niddrie (Keilor Road)
- North Essendon
- Preston (High Street)
- Ringwood
Targeted urban renewal advice will also be provided to the Braybrook Regeneration Project Urban Design Framework
Melbourne New Communities – 12 greenfield PSPs with capacity for 30,000 dwellings and 6,000 jobs:
Tier 1 (Housing Statement priority projects):
- Beveridge North West PSP
- Gunns Gully Road Interchange GAIC WIK
- Greenvale North (Part 2) PSP
- Devon Meadows PSP
- Melton East PSP
- Clyde South due diligence
Tier 2 (projects that are progressing subject to technical studies being undertaken and completed across government to determine appropriate next steps):
- Wallan South PSP
- Wallan East (Part 1) PSP
- Cardinia Creek South (Part 2) PSP
Tier 3 (Projects where work is being undertaken across Government or with stakeholders to confirm readiness for the VPA to progress to plan preparation):
- Rockbank South PSP
- Oakbank PSP
- Kororoit PSP (Part 2)
The Business Plan also outlines a range of initiatives around streamlining processes, strengthening infrastructure coordination, improving partnerships with Traditional Owners, and enhancing the VPA’s organisational capabilities.
The Business Plan provides an exciting pipeline of projects that will make a vital contribution to housing supply and economic growth in communities across Victoria.
Best Hooper has extensive experience working with greenfield, infill and regional clients in a range of property, development and planning law matters.
Our pre-eminent Planning Team has an outstanding reputation in specialised planning law, environmental law, local government and everything in between. Our Planning Team provides strategic advice and representation to landowners, developers and other parties on all aspects of town planning in relation to local government, heritage, environmental, enforcement and property development law within PSPs.
Our Land Development Team assists clients with infrastructure delivery, negotiations with authorities and adjoining owners, section 173 agreements, complex subdivisions, adverse possession, roads, easements, land access, land acquisition and planning compensation, valuations, Growth Areas Infrastructure Contributions, Windfall Gains Tax & Environmental Mitigation Levies, infrastructure and development contributions and project delivery.
Best Hooper looks forward to working closely with its clients to deliver their projects within the VPA’s identified priority PSPs.
Should you wish to discuss any of the VPA’s priority PSPs or understand how Best Hooper can assist you, please reach out to our Planning and Land Development Teams.
