The Greens want Victoria’s urban planning system to place affordability, sustainability, democracy and certainty back at the centre of every planning decision.
For too long, big property developers with too much influence have been allowed to shape Victoria’s planning system.
Victoria’s land use and planning system is delivering unaffordable, unsustainable, and poor quality urban development, with less transparency and accountability in decision making.
As Victoria grows we need a planning system that puts the interests of people first. Our planning system should be focused on delivering high-quality affordable and sustainable housing in thriving communities.
Neighbourhoods and cities should have open spaces, plenty of trees, be powered by renewable energy and connected through active and sustainable forms of transport like walking, cycling, and public transport.
The Greens have a plan to fix our urban planning system:
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Mandate affordable housing (inclusionary zoning) in all new property developments. For big apartment buildings, 30% of new dwellings will be set aside for public and community housing or other forms of affordable housing.
- Encourage more affordable, sustainable and community led housing by creating a new fast track priority application stream to accelerate deliberative housing projects.
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Provide certainty by ensuring consistent controls:
- Mandatory height limits and minimum apartment sizes.
- Protecting Green Wedges and the urban growth boundary.
- Ensuring residential zones are delivering the type of housing our community needs and wants.
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Rapidly increase the sustainability of all new urban development:
- Requiring all new residential and commercial development to achieve a minimum 8 star rating.
- Requiring all apartment buildings of 5 storeys and above to provide 50% of their roof space for either solar panels or a green roof.
- Taking strong action to combat the urban heat island effect by ensuring minimum garden areas and tree cover in areas designated for more housing.
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Restore the rights of the community in local decision making:
- Reforming the VCAT appeal process to stop developers gaming the system.
- Re-introducing third party appeal rights (where they have been stripped).
- Requiring that all Ministerial call-ins need a legislated process of exhibition and consultation before decision.