25/08/2017
VPA Update
Dear Colleague,
| It has been a very busy time since I last emailed you on 5 July! I spent as much time as I could during my first weeks on the job getting out to meet with as many of you as possible. My thanks to all those who made time to meet with me, brief me, question me and/or listen to me (as the case may be!) on my “listening tour”.
It has been a steep learning curve and has confirmed for me that this is a great organisation, doing great work, and poised to go to the next level – with much expected of us by many! Here is a short clip of me introducing myself and discussing my goals for the organisation over the coming years. I am now working with the Board and staff to crystallise our strategic plan and roadmap for the next three years. This will be focused not just on clarifying our role and deliverables, but also on how we want to operate and improve as an organisation. The feedback I am continually receiving from so many of you will be an important input into this process. Stay tuned! Mount Atkinson As you might have read in last Wednesday’s papers, Minister for Planning Richard Wynne, approved the detailed structure plan for Mt Atkinson, a new suburb just south-west of Caroline Springs. This is a big milestone and the first PSP approved on my watch as CEO. The project will deliver an economically sustainable, well-designed new community, which will be home to more than 22,000 people and 19,000 jobs. This means residents of the 1500-hectare precinct will be able to work where they live – creating a self-sustainable community; reducing pressure on our roads and giving people back leisure time. The plan includes 30% open space, four future schools and a major town centre. Developers will contribute $340 million towards community infrastructure, and the VPA is working towards an arrangement with developers to result in timely delivery of infrastructure through GAIC works-in-kind. This is the second PSP approved as part of the 100,000 lots program which will result in the creation of 17 new suburbs by the end of 2018. Plans like this one will help keep house prices in check, providing affordable housing in well-designed master planned estates. Wyndham Priority Paid Pilot Program As part of the Victorian Government’s agenda to boost land supply by streamlining post-PSP approvals, the VPA has facilitated a second memorandum of understanding with Wyndham City Council and developers to help boost housing supply. The second MoU as part of the Wyndham Priority Paid Pilot Program was signed on Monday this week, signifying a partnership between the VPA, Wyndham City Council, Central Equity, Dacland, Lotus Oaks Development, LLT Developments, APD Projects and Frasers Property Australia. This project will allow developers who own land in Wyndham to pay a fee to council to fast-track applications for subdivision approvals and engineering works. Council will be using the money to establish a new dedicated growth area team focused on assessing applications for large residential developments. This project is part of our Streamlining for Growth program aiming to make Victoria’s planning system more efficient. Community engagement The VPA engagement team has recently been involved in four consultation sessions in relation to the exhibition of the Altona North Comprehensive Development Plan. These events were hosted by council and had more than 120 residents attend across the sessions. The VPA also attended and presented at a council-run community event relating to the concept plan developed for East Village in Bentleigh East. This was the second in a series of engagements that council has planned at various stages of the development of the plan. These two projects are part of our growing renewal workplan and we aim to be more active and more effective in partnering with councils and communities to facilitate quality renewal. Streamlining for Growth The Victorian Government is investing $20 million into the VPA’s Streamlining for Growth Program over four years. This program provides funding grants to councils for projects that will unblock delays in planning and result in new affordable housing, jobs and infrastructure. The 2017/18 round of projects are close to being finalised. We have received a lot of great applications for exciting projects such as the Tangambalanga structure plan announced below https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/government-assistance-for-murray-goulburn-workers/ Announcements for all of the streamlining projects will be made soon. Job advertisements We are currently recruiting for the following position: Finally Please call our office or me on (03) 9651 9600 if you have any questions or suggestions on these or any other items, or reply accordingly if you no longer wish to receive these emails. Best regards,
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