KINGSTON Council says it is assembling a team of “experts” to shape future state government-led planning changes.
Kingston mayor Jenna Davey-Burns says that with the state government moving ahead with the suburban rail loop project and its ambitious housing targets, councils must ensure that future planning changes represent the best interests of the community.
The Suburban Rail Loop Authority is working on a structure plan to cover Cheltenham, Highett and Clayton. Community submissions will be accepted once the plan is released next year. Davey-Burns said that council anticipates that building height limits will increase in those areas, and that “with this in mind, we are assembling a team of experts to lead our response to the independent review.”
“Our absolute focus is on ensuring the right balance between growth and liveability is achieved. We have also undertaken a comprehensive analysis and developed a detailed response to the Victorian government’s Plan Victoria and new housing targets,” she said. “The work provides a confidence that Kingston can accommodate the envisaged housing, though it critically draws out that new parks, drainage upgrades, sporting fields, cycle paths and community services must be supercharged to keep up with the anticipated population growth.”
The state government says that 59,000 new homes should be built in the Kingston local government area by 2051 to meet housing demand. Davey-Burns said that target will “create profound change in Highett, Cheltenham and Clayton South especially, so it’s essential we are at the table.”
“Housing is a critical issue for all levels of government and innovative solutions are needed to deliver much-needed housing supply, while retaining all the things our residents love about Kingston,” she said. “We know Melbourne can’t keep sprawling outwards and have worked hard to channel this required growth into the right places – near train stations, activity centres and major roads, while protecting quieter residential streets.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 18 September 2024