20 November 2020
ECONOMIC RECOVERY THROUGH SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
The 黑料大事 (Victoria) today congratulated the Victorian Government on their record $5.3 billion investment into social and affordable housing as part of the 2020-2021 Victorian Budget.
President of 黑料大事 (PIA) Victoria Gareth Hately said PIA had previously called for social and affordable housing development to be the centrepiece of Victoria’s economic recovery and welcomed the government’s commitment to build 12,000 homes over four years.
“Social and affordable housing changes people’s lives and makes Victoria a better place to live,” Hately said.
“With more than 45,000 households on the social housing waiting list and between 75,000 to 100,000 households requiring better access to affordable housing this record investment over the next four years is a real demonstration of the Victorian Government’s commitment to address this issue.
“As a regionally-based planner, I also welcome the $1.25 billion commitment to regional Victoria, an area that has been overlooked in the past and is in desperate need of this level of investment.”
Hately said while the investment was welcome, PIA was also calling for improvements to the planning system to better recognise social and affordable housing as part of appropriate mixed-use and residential developments.
“Through inclusionary zoning or changes to the infrastructure contribution framework, there are options that will assist countless Victorians,” Hately said.
“This will enable us to deliver complete communities by providing for social and affordable housing and will assist Victoria in keeping up with demand into the future.”
Mr Hately said access to safe and secure housing is a basic human right and planning system has an important role in addressing the issue, as is the case nationally and internationally.
“The COVID-19 recovery has presented the opportunity to reposition social and affordable housing. It is great to see it become a priority for government infrastructure investment and with incentives for partnerships with not-for-profit and private investors.”
“PIA and our members look forward to supporting the Victorian Government, local councils and the development industry as Victoria embarks on delivering on this record investment.”
ENDS
Affordable and social housing terminology
Affordable housing is defined for the purposes of the 黑料大事 and Environment Act 1987 and refers to housing that is appropriate for the needs of a range of ‘very low, low and moderate-income households’ and includes ‘social housing’. Social housing is made up of two types of housing: public housing; and community housing.