Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Ministers statements: housing

Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Development Victoria, Minister for Precincts, Minister for Creative Industries) (14:36): On this side of the house we believe more homes means more opportunity. In the last week we have announced a series of policies to build more homes around 50 train and tram zones and to provide stamp duty relief, subdivision reform, rental reforms and land supply, both greenfield and surplus government land. And when it comes to surplus land, there is no better site than Arden. Thousands of new homes will be built around the brand new metro station at Arden, close to jobs and services and just one stop to the fantastic Parkville precinct. We are out to market on Arden right now and have announced a really strong shortlist from the EOI process. At the old water tank site on Upper Heidelberg Road at Ivanhoe we are going to build more than 270 homes with 2000 square metres of open space, a fantastic community park.

A member interjected.

Colin BROOKS: A great local member. At the former VicRoads office at Kew, around 500 homes will be built in an area brimming with services and schools and close to open space. We have launched our innovative small sites program expression-of-interest process to deliver 260 homes offering deferred payment on land to help kickstart construction in Coburg, Alphington, Preston and Malvern, where young people want to live and where they should have a chance to own their own home. These are just a few examples of the pipeline of surplus land that we are unlocking for more homes. The Allan Labor government is determined to build more homes, while some are determined to block them. While we are unlocking opportunities for young people, they are trying to take those opportunities away. We are delivering more homes and more opportunity, more opportunity for young people to rent or to buy, more opportunity to live where people want and near the people they love.