CEO Update – April 2024

It’s been a busy start to the year at the VPA as we push hard to deliver the 31 projects allocated to us by Victoria’s Housing Statement. VPA-planned areas are set to deliver more than 120,000 of the 800,000 new dwellings targeted by the Housing Statement for delivery over the next 10 years, along with capacity for more than 60,000 jobs.

And we are making good progress, with a number of metropolitan and regional projects out on consultation or about to commence consultation, and other projects being reviewed by the VPA Projects Standing Advisory Committee or already gazetted.

Plans for Wonthaggi North East gazetted

New homes, jobs and services are on the way for the growing town of Wonthaggi following the gazettal of new plans for Wonthaggi North East in January.

Our plans, developed in consultation with Bass Coast Shire, outline how Wonthaggi North East will develop into a green and connected new community that extends from the existing Wonthaggi township while protecting the natural beauty of this regional destination.

The 633hectare precinct will accommodate 5,000 new homes and 1,600 new jobs, providing long term housing and employment opportunities for the Bass Coast region. Industrial and commercial land along the Bass Highway will create local jobs, while land for new community facilities include a proposed new government primary school, and a new sports reserve.

Wonthaggi North East is one of the 21 priority projects identified in Victoria’s Housing Statement to deliver more than 60,000 homes and 60,000 jobs across Victoria, and the first of these projects to be gazetted.

Find out more about our gazetted plans for Wonthaggi North East on the VPA website.

Plans for Shepparton South East out on consultation

The VPA is consulting with the Shepparton community on our plans for Shepparton South East, which we developed with the City of Greater Shepparton. The draft precinct structure plan covers the largest of Shepparton’s five growth corridors. It plans to deliver more than 20 years of residential growth 2km southeast of the Shepparton CBD.

We have been out in the Shepparton community to meet with locals and answer their questions, with well attended events both online and in person.

The Minister for Planning, the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, discussed the plans with ABC Goulburn Murray in February, highlighting the importance of well-planned urban growth for Shepparton.

Find out more about our plans for Shepparton South East on the VPA website.

Officer South Employment PSP with Standing Advisory Committee

The VPA Projects Standing Advisory Committee is currently considering our plans for the Officer South Employment Precinct along with community submissions received during the September-October 2023 consultation period.

The Officer South Employment precinct is located approximately 45km southeast of Melbourne’s central business district within the municipality of Cardinia. It covers an area of approximately 1,069 hectares.

Our plans for Officer South include a state-significant industrial precinct and regionally-significant commercial business, which will support approximately 22,000 jobs for Melbourne’s southeast. They also include a residential precinct that incorporates natural and historic heritage features alongside new homes for around 5,000 Victorians.

Find out more about our plans for the Officer South Employment precinct on the VPA website.

Consultation open on Activity Centres

As part of Victoria’s Housing Statement, we are working with the Department of Transport and Planning to deliver more homes close to services, jobs, and transport in 10 activity centres across Melbourne.

Working with local councils and community, the program will enable the delivery of an estimated 60,000 homes through a review of building heights and design requirements, and changes to existing rules to support appropriate development.
The program is one way the Victorian Government is working to deliver more homes in the right places to improve housing affordability and increase housing choice.

We have commenced our first phase of community consultation across these activity centres. Our consultation includes public surveys on Engage Vic, direct consultation with Traditional Owners and key stakeholders, and the establishment of community reference groups, with varied approaches for each centre depending on the level of existing work already progressed by the local council.

Find out more about the Activity Centres Program and details about each activity centre on the VPA website.

A busy year ahead

While the Activity Centres Program is a significant new piece of work for the VPA, we continue to focus on the task given to us in the Housing Statement to deliver 21 priority projects for growing suburbs. We are progressing plans to create zoned capacity for more than 60,000 homes and 60,000 jobs, with some of these projects already complete or nearing completion.

Over the coming months we expect three more Housing Statement priority projects to go on public consultation, with more to come later in year. The VPA will be consulting on draft plans for Greenvale North (in the City of Hume), Croskell (in the City of Casey), and Braybrook (in the City of Maribyrnong). We will also run a second round of community consultation for the activity centres.

The Housing Statement presents a clear vision for Victoria’s housing future backed by a bold target of 80,000 new homes each year over the next decade – and the VPA has a vitally important role to play. 

As always, thank you for your interest and ongoing support as we plan for prosperous, liveable, and sustainable urban communities across a growing Victoria.