TENS of thousands of new homes should be built in the Kingston municipality by 2051 according to an ambitious state government plan released last week.
The Victorian government has set every council a housing target to reach by 2051. The state government says 59,000 new homes should be built in the Kingston local government area in the next 27 years – as of 2023, there are a little more than 69,000 homes in the Kingston municipality. A target of 36,000 new houses has been set for the neighbouring Frankston Council area, and 57,000 is targeted for the Greater Dandenong municipality.
Premier Jacinta Allan said that the state government needs support from councils to help build more than two million new homes over the next 30 years to support Victoria’s growing population. “To give industry the confidence they need to get on and build, we need government and all councils working towards the same goal – more homes for Victorians, in the right places,” she said.
Allan revealed the plan last week. A state government media release accompanying the announcement read that councils should consider planning changes to accommodate more housing. “Victoria’s councils have the powers to unlock space for more homes by proposing changes to local planning rules. The government will consult closely with councils to harness their local knowledge, with councils to report back on the draft target and the local changes they propose,” the state government media release read. Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny said “we want to work in partnership with councils to build more homes in the areas where people want to live – close to the people they love and the things they love to do.”
After a process which took around five years, Kingston Council’s housing strategy was approved by the planning minister earlier this year. The plan outlines which areas of Kingston should accommodate substantial residential development (“Minister approves housing plan” The News 8/5/2024).
The housing targets are currently in the draft phase. Community consultation is underway, with the final targets expected to be released by the end of the year. To view the draft targets visit engage.vic.gov.au/project/shape-our-victoria/page/housing-targets-2051
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 19th June 2024