Ministers statements: housing
Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Development Victoria, Minister for Precincts, Minister for Creative Industries) (14:20): There is no more important issue at the moment than housing, and that is why the Allan Labor government – it has got a good ring to it – is getting on with the job of boosting housing supply right across the state. As part of our work to build the 2.24 million homes Victoria will need by 2051, we are setting a regional target to build about 425,000 of those homes across our regions. As Minister for Development Victoria I intend to drive strong partnerships with private industry to deliver diverse and affordable housing across Victoria, including the regions. Key urban renewal sites and precincts across regional Victoria are already playing a part in helping to build more homes close to jobs and transport thanks to the work of the previous minister. But it is not just about building homes; it is also about building great, livable, well-designed communities, creating open space and bringing services and jobs closer to people’s homes. Projects like Junction Place in Wodonga, the largest regional urban renewal initiative in the country, will bring new life to the historic railway precinct in central Wodonga. This project will double the size of Wodonga’s CBD, delivering homes, quality community spaces and a mix of retail, entertainment and commercial spaces.
We also know that as more homes are built in regional Victoria, more people will want to work in regional Victoria, which is why we have invested in jobs precincts such as Ballarat West –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Member for Bulleen! You can leave the chamber for half an hour.
Member for Bulleen withdrew from chamber.
Colin BROOKS: Yes, well, I am not talking about Fishermans Bend. That is why we have invested in jobs precincts as well such as the Ballarat West employment zone in the member for Ripon’s electorate. That delivers more land for housing and will unlock under-utilised surplus government land to deliver around 9000 homes across 45 sites both in metropolitan Melbourne and across regional Victoria as well, ensuring a proportion of that goes to Victorians on low and moderate incomes. Only the Allan Labor government has a serious plan to deliver more housing for Victorians.