Craig
Ondarchie MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier speaks at UDIA (VIC) May
Luncheon
Mr
Craig Ondarchie MP, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier of Victoria, was
the guest speaker at the UDIA (VIC) May Luncheon and outlined a number of issues
and actions being taken by the Victorian Government that will assist recovery
in the development industry and provide a more certain and stable structure.
Major
points outlined in the address included:
1. The Napthine Government
is sending a strong message about its commitment to economic growth via development.
The Economic Statement issued by the Government last December was titled: "Securing
Victoria's Economy - Planning, Building, Delivering". Next
Tuesday's State Budget will have the theme "Building for Growth".
These important government documents recognise the role of development and construction
as key drivers for a strong economy.
2. The Government is
developing the Metropolitan Planning Strategy (MPS). The MPS is being developed
to guide Melbourne's growth over the next 40 years. Earlier this year Minister
Guy announced that the MPS will be implemented by a Metropolitan Planning Authority
(MPA), which will be formed from the Growth Area's Authority (GAA), and parts
of Places Victoria and the former Department of Planning and Community Development.
The Authority will be established by the time the Metropolitan Planning Strategy
is completed, so it can immediately commence work with Local Government on its
implementation.
3. As part of next week's
State Budget, the Government has announced its support for first home buyers and
job creation in the housing construction industry, by:
o bringing forward a major
cut in stamp duty.
o increasing grants for newly
constructed homes and apartments from $7,000 to $10,000.
4. The Victorian
Government has recently restructured the Victorian Public Service to align the
bureaucracy's structure to the Government objectives. For example the integration
of Planning, Transport, Local Government, the Land Titles Office, the Valuer-General
and Surveyor-General are all now in the one Department managed by Minister's Mulder
and Guy.
5. The Government
is liberalising the Planning System, to make it more consistent and simpler.
We want to encourage developers to take the initiative and build more socially
and community minded places by offering incentives such as greater height or quicker
approval processes, rather than making more legislation and policies to deliver
these important outcomes.
6.
The Napthine Government is sending a strong message about its commitment to economic
growth via development. The Economic Statement issued by the Government
last December was titled: "Securing Victoria's Economy - Planning, Building,
Delivering". Next Tuesday's state budget will have the theme "Building
for Growth". These important government documents recognise the role
of development and construction as key drivers for a strong economy.
Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media
Communications, UDIA (VIC) - Mobile: 0417 329 201
