Parliament debates priority precincts

The Transport Infrastructure and Planning Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 reforms the planning process around a range of precincts, including Arden, Docklands, Fishermans Bend, Footscray, East Werribee, Parkville and Sunshine. 
 
In his second reading speech Danny Pearson, Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, said the bill would enhance the government’s ability to develop and deliver Priority Precincts and support the delivery of the Suburban Rail Loop and all other major transport projects.​

“ 'We need to create a better way to deliver the housing and infrastructure Victorians need where they need it.' ”

Danny Pearson, Minister for Transport Infrastructure

'An extra 3.6 million people are forecast to live in Victoria by 2051. This is a state where people want to live, work and study. However, Victorians are finding it harder to locate housing close to where they work, and commute times are increasing for many. We need to create a better way to deliver the housing and infrastructure Victorians need where they need it,' he said.

Member for Caulfield David Southwick said in his speech that the key failing of the legislation was that it failed to create a process to consult the public.

'The ability for community, for councils, to raise issues when it comes to land acquisition, when it comes to various agencies coming onto their land and when it comes to easements and the acquisition of easements is ignored. Local voices have been ignored again,' he said. 

Josh Bull, Member for Sunbury, said the development of the precincts was designed to connect transport, planning and housing.

'It ensures that you get to live in a place where you can access transport to see family, to see friends, to go and study – to do all of the things that you need to do,' he said.

“ 'If we follow the government’s path, we will sacrifice the livability of this city for population growth.' ”

James Newbury, Member for Brighton

Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh said the legislation would take away people's voices.

'So where you had a community with their shopping strips, with their social cohesion, this is going to be taken away by massive, big projects that they may not actually want in their community,' he said. 

Minister for Precincts, Colin Brooks said the legislation was about delivering transport and housing. 

'We make no apology for wanting to build more homes, more opportunity, so that people can live near transport and services and, importantly, near the people that they love and so that people are able to live in the areas that they have grown up in,' he said.

James Newbury, Member for Brighton, said the bill focused on growth and development, and disregards the quality of life for Melbourne's residents. 

'If we follow the government's path, we will sacrifice the livability of this city for population growth,' he said.

Member for Albert Park, Nina Taylor said Melbourne's livability would be destroyed without investments in public transport. 

'It does take good planning and good housing and other matters and not only thinking of the boomers but also thinking of future generations,' she said. 

Michael O’Brien, Member for Malvern, acknowledged the need for more housing during his speech but said his community wanted to have more of a say in the process.  
 
‘No-one is saying we cannot build. No-one is saying we do not need more homes – but work with the community. Stonnington council has already got a strategy to increase the number of homes without 20-storey towers looking into everyone’s backyard,' he said.   

The full debate can be read in Hansard.

The bill has now been sent to the Legislative Council.