Tuesday, 4 February 2025

Ministers statements: Development Victoria

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (13:26): I rise to update the house on the new appointment of Anne Jolic as the CEO of Development Victoria. Anne brings a wealth of experience through her extensive career in the private sector and property industry, and she is perfectly placed to support DV and the Allan Labor government as we work to revitalise urban areas, create cultural and recreational facilities and build diverse, affordable and sustainable communities. With a career spanning more than a quarter of a century, she has led multidisciplinary teams that have delivered in building projects that have shaped our city and state.

Unlike those opposite, the Allan Labor government is not wasting a day in tackling the housing crisis. We are building more homes closer to local jobs, education sites and key services, and we are building these homes for the people that need them most. Just last year 21 per cent of DV housing sales were to families and individuals on incomes eligible for affordable housing. And at the iconic Fitzroy Gasworks site our government is delivering 1200 homes, including 20 per cent affordable housing as well as a mix of build-to-rent. The new neighbourhood will also feature a multi-use sports centre close to transport connections and open space. This is a thriving new precinct – which is predictably opposed by the Greens political party – and an example of the important work that DV is doing and continues to do, not just around additionally building homes but also building communities. And it is not just metropolitan Melbourne that will benefit from these transformational projects: Development Vic is building communities across regional Victoria, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Morwell, Wodonga and Geelong.

I am looking forward to working with Anne and her team as we continue to unlock and rezone surplus government land, which will enable the delivery of approximately 9000 homes across 45 sites up and down our state. We are a government committed to providing opportunities for all Victorians to have the dignity of a roof over their head and to realise their aspiration no matter where they live. While those opposite block, we will build, and I cannot wait to get on with this work.