Our ask: the Victorian Government implement a new state planning provision that mandates the inclusion of affordable housing when land is rezoned for residential use or when large-scale housing developments are approved.
Yarra Ranges Council seeks the ability to specify and deliver housing diversity outcomes to improve the variety and affordability of housing options in Yarra Ranges, to better fit-to community needs.
Access to affordable housing is a foundational determinant to community health and wellbeing. In Yarra Ranges, increasing housing diversity and affordability is essential to meet the needs of our changing population, particularly smaller households, young people and older residents.
Under existing arrangements, affordable housing outcomes are negotiated and their inclusion is often treated as a bonus, not a requirement. Whilst developers maximising return on investment from residential development projects enables more projects to go ahead, it is essential for government and councils to also push to achieve community benefit, especially for our residents desperately trying to gain appropriate housing.
Why is this an issue?
- Current housing stock in Yarra Ranges is 90% detached houses. In our urban areas there is limited medium and high density and smaller dwelling options.
- Yarra Ranges has the second lowest number of rental properties in metropolitan Melbourne, with only 14% of occupied private dwellings being rentals.
- Yarra Ranges’ social housing stock stands at 1.2% of all dwellings compared with the state average of 3%.
- In 2023 more than 1600 local applicants were on the Victorian Housing Register.
- Council is not aware of any new social housing projects planned or underway in Yarra Ranges as part of the Big Housing Build.
- Homelessness is growing with local services assisting over 2,000 people in 2021-22. 63.7% were female and nearly 30% were under the age of15. Family violence is the single largest cited cause.
Benefits
- Economic participation is boosted by enabling key workers, young people, and low-income residents to live closer to jobs, education, transport and services.
- More diverse mix of dwelling types and tenures that reflect changing household needs.
- Improved health and wellbeing outcomes arise from secure, safe and stable living conditions.
- Strengthened community resilience by reducing housing-related disadvantage and promoting inclusive neighbourhoods where people of all ages and incomes can thrive.
- Social connections and participation are improved when people remain in their communities, maintain support networks and engage in civic life.