IN response to land shortages, Greater Shepparton City Council chief council executive Peter Harriott asked the Victorian Government for support.
In a statement, Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said, “The Victorian Liberal’s identified this issue over 12 months ago and in May 2021 released a policy to provide a solution for regional communities by fast-tracking planning approvals.”
“To support this demand for population shift into regional communities, urgent action is needed to ensure an adequate supply of land well into the future.”
Ms Lovell says that if Victoria’s opposition leader Matthew Guy is elected, he will fast-track 50,000 new lots in rural and regional Victorian councils, excluding areas in the Melbourne urban-growth boundary and the City of Greater Geelong, within the first two years of government.
The Liberal Party plans to open 50,000 new lots of land in rural and regional areas across the state, while also allocating $5M over two years to establish a regional planning flying squad to assist regional council to fast-track land development schemes.
Land in short supply flows on to businesses and other essential services, like GV Health, impacting their ability attract and retain skilled workers in critical job vacancies.
“Without opening new lots for housing, Greater Shepparton will miss out on the benefits of increasing population, additional small business opportunities and better services to meet the growing demand.”
Ms Lovell explained, “By making it easier to plan and build new homes, it will free up established properties for individuals and families who are looking to rent.”
“By establishing a planning flying squad and reforming the laws, a Matthew Guy Liberal government will make sure proposals don’t drown in green tape, red tape and bureaucratic speak from government departments.”
