Executive
Director of the UDIA (VIC) Tony De Domenico said, "In
the current financial climate where we have building starts at a 16 year
low, according to the HIA, and a need to urgently build back confidence in the
housing and development industry, Certainty in Planning must
be a major focus of all levels of Government.
"The
reality is Victoria and the community cannot afford the current planning system,
which in many circumstances has no certainty and can see millions of dollars and
years wasted on processes that impacts on housing affordability, is a major disincentive
to investment and a waste of local government and government resources."
Mr
De Domenico said the reforms being undertaken by the Victorian Government will
provide a more transparent approach to planning and importantly will provide certainty
for the industry in relation to what can be developed and where, through reforms
to Victoria's residential, commercial, industrial and
rural planning zones.
"The
changes in these zones do not dramatically change many of the existing uses, however,
they do assemble the guidelines and processes in a far more modern and sensible
order with new timelines that frame a more efficient future planning system across
Victoria cutting red tape and promoting effective decision
making.
"The
property industry in Victoria directly employs around 310,000 full time employees,
contributes around 12 per cent of the state's gross domestic product and $4.6
billion in taxes to all tiers of government."
Mr
De Domenico said the importance of ensuring this industry and the community has
an efficient planning system to operate within should not be underestimated as
the outcome has a major impact on housing affordability, employment and provision
of sustainable development.
"The
planning reforms will be fundamental in modernising a planning system which will
need to cope with an average forecast population growth of 3 per cent between
2011 and 2031 seeing Victoria's population grow from
5.6 million to 7.3 million," Mr De Domenico said.
