PIA President Victoria’s planning system PIA Victoria acknowledges and applauds the current Govern- Laura Murray RPIA ment for initiating and maintaining its commitment to the SMART Planning program to reform our current planning system. This is undeniably a huge task to undertake and we Last month’s edition of Planning News welcomed political are only in the beginning stages of this significant overhaul. party responses to PIA Victoria’s State Election Statement. We received responses from Hon , Minister The Victorian Labor Party believes that a review of VCAT is for Planning (Victorian Labor); Hon , Leader of also required and will be an important agenda item for them the , Leader of the Liberal Party and; Samantha next term, whereas, the Victorian Greens have committed Ratnam MLC, Parliamentary Leader of the Victorian Greens. to initiating a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Planning and Although each party’s response was not without its own Environment Act to undertake a wholesale review of the Act. underlying political agenda, some clear synergies to PIA’s Although PIA would agree that both have some merit, we Election Statement can be made. I will discuss each of these believe that priority should be given to continue the efforts further below. of SMART Planning to ensure our Planning System is the Planning for Victoria’s Future most efficient and robust in the country. We hope that the importance of this project will continue to be recognised Both the Victorian Labor Party and Greens support consult- beyond this election cycle. ative, transparent, evidence-based planning with a clear mandate and ongoing targets for the Victorian Planning Aside from the Victorian Greens, there is no commonality Authority (VPA) to strategically guide the future growth of from the Labor or Liberal parties as to how we can sustainably . The Liberal Party, on the other hand, seeks to grow our city. The Liberal Party calls for a reinstatement of bring forward the planning and approvals within the Precinct the former Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) which Structure Plan (PSP) areas under the VPA and growth area would limit height and density in the majority of the middle Councils’ jurisdiction. ring. They also seek to fast-track growth area approvals; and establish a population commission all under the one Infrastructure delivery and integrated land use and public agenda. While our current Government have made minor transport outcomes appear to have common agreement amendments to the current residential zones, with no however, although it is clear that all parties have differing significant plans for change. priorities in terms of implementation. Given the politics involved in this debate, including what Victorian Labor believe a Suburban Rail Loop is what is should be mandated through the establishment of a needed for our growing city, which PIA would agree improves population commission, PIA believe that this issue would be connectivity between the Plan Melbourne-identified National better addressed at a Federal level to enable the prioritisation Employment and Innovation Cluster (NEIC) areas, relieving of such items across the country and avoid biased State pressure on the CBD. However, we would argue that this goes outcomes. Such tasks can only be identified once a National against the purposes of having an independent statutory authority such as Infrastructure Victoria (IV) if such significant Settlement Strategy has been developed, something PIA has plans are not included in their 30 year strategy and IV are not been advocating for at a National level. consulted on this plan. Affordable housing Let’s not forget the ad hoc announcement made by Hon All parties have their own priorities for tackling affordable Matthew Guy some 12 months ago which sought to use housing. Our current Government has taken a positive step grade-separation to remove traffic lights and roundabouts forward by: introducing a definition for affordable housing from 55 of our city’s congested intersections. This was into the Planning and Environment Act; working with the another announcement that had no Infrastructure Victoria Department of Health and Human Services to renew and backing, and to which PIA Victoria wrote a letter to Mr Guy increase the supply of social housing; undertaking an stipulating our concerns. Inclusionary Housing Pilot on six identified government land We were pleased to see the Victorian Greens echo PIA’s State parcels, as well as the recently released Fishermans Bend Election Statement which calls for a State-wide Transport Renewal Precinct controls which introduced a dwelling density Plan. They believe a State-wide Transport Plan is needed to uplift for social housing only in addition to a requirement for identify long-term solutions to our transport system, rather at least 6% affordable housing to be provided across the than haphazard major projects and mega road infrastructure. precinct. The Liberal Party, on the other hand, have committed The Liberal Party believe housing affordability can be tackled to duplicating the railway line between Dandenong and by faster, quicker release of properties in the growth areas, Cranbourne; extending the Frankston railway line to the although one would argue that the lack of infrastructure and Baxter growth area, and will commit $633 million to replacing services in these areas will not “help keep costs down”. The Victoria’s long-haul V/Line fleet to improve connectivity to Liberal Party have also stated that they will bring forward regional and country Victoria (aligning with their plans for development contributions and GAIC money to bring decentralisation). infrastructure forward. However, it is uncertain how this Indisputably, PIA support increasing services and public would actually be done. transport connections across our State, however we continue The Victorian Greens have made a pledge to build 40,000 to advocate for transparent, evidence-based planning for such new public housing units in six years while introducing projects and prioritising infrastructure development based on inclusionary zoning into the planning system with specific its assessment of need by Infrastructure Victoria. All of which targets. PIA acknowledge that such targets are not dissimilar would be incorporated in a State-wide Transport Plan. to that of the UK, Canada or USA.

4 Planning News Volume 44 No.10 November 2018 While all of the above are steps in the right direction, census may not necessarily have access to adequate training in this data from 2016 counted 116,000 homeless people across area. We would be happy to work with said decision-makers the country, with just under 25,000 people homeless in to provide this required level of training through our robust Victoria (source: homelessnessaustralia.org). PIA continues training program. to advocate for more to be done at a State level in this space, We also support all efforts that promote the planning including mandatory contributions of affordable housing and profession from a tertiary education level to continuous targets for under-utilised land in appropriate locations in professional development that will ensure high professional our middle-ring suburbs to accommodate more medium standards are maintained. density housing and much more affordable housing, with good services. In conclusion Professional and community Ultimately, as confirmed, certainty and prioritisation of key agenda items can be achieved through a robust, transparent capacity and education and depoliticised planning system. PIA’s call for a National Although the current Government has identified the Settlement Strategy would ensure that many of the priorities ongoing need to provide resources to regional Victoria and listed above are considered through a clear and evidence- has allocated funds for this through the Streamlining for based approach with a long-term vision, beyond electoral Growth program, PIA maintain that we are willing to work cycles, beyond State boundaries. with Government to expand our current PLANET training Further details of PIA’s advocacy for a National Settlement program and Registered Planner service offering to regional Strategy can be found in our recently launched document ‘The Victoria. Being the National body representing planning and Tipping Point’ (I was honoured to be a part of this important the planning profession, PIA will continue to champion the launch at Parliament House in Canberra this month and look role of planning in shaping ’s future through strong forward to continuing this discussion. leadership, advocacy and contemporary planning education. PIA agrees with the Victorian Greens response that such Laura Murray is President of the Victoria Division of PIA training should include all elected decision-makers who and can be contacted at [email protected]

It’s time to celebrate! Following the very successful PIA Symposium on 12 October, it is now time to celebrate! On Friday 9 November, the Celebration of Planning Dinner and presentation of the Victorian Awards for Planning Excellence will showcase how and why planners do what they do, and we will recognise the outstanding planning It’s a great chance to celebrate the end of the year with achievements of groups and individuals over the past year. your planning team! Book a table of 8+ ASAP, and view the This sit-down event includes a three-course dinner, drinks event page at www.planning.org.au/vic for more details. So, and dancing at the beautiful Peninsula in Docklands. After whether you are an award nominee, or not, come along and the awards are presented, we invite every attendee to celebrate our fantastic planning profession and the amazing celebrate their own planning accomplishments, and our projects and people in it. whole profession.

LS Planning

L.S. Planning provides experience and expertise across a broad range of planning issues. Services offered include; • Council overload work • VCAT representation • Strategic planning • Planning Scheme amendments • Expert Witness advice and representation

Tel: 03 9399 1236 Email: [email protected] www.lsplanning.com.au

Planning News Volume 44 No.10 November 2018 5