Brighton, I want you to know that I’m not a blocker. I’m a builder

To the people of Brighton,

You have a wonderful community. You love it because it’s close to good schools, shops and transport – the things you need, and the people you love. Your kids – anyone’s kids – deserve the opportunity to live there one day, too.

On current trends, they won’t have that chance. That’s why the status quo needs to change.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.Credit: Darrian Traynor

Why do young people want to live in “established” suburbs like Brighton, Hawthorn or Oakleigh? Because they’re connected to public transport, jobs, schools and shops.

They are also the suburbs where so many young people grew up and want to stay. But to get on the ladder there, they need more affordable options to buy, like apartments, units and townhouses. And it makes sense for those types of homes to go right near a train station.

Under my plan, there’ll be more homes around train stations in 50 “established” suburbs. I call them train and tram zones, but really, they’re opportunity zones because they give young people more opportunities to buy a home, start a family and build their long-term wealth.

Bayside residents protest outside a recent press conference by Premier Jacinta Allan.Credit: Nine News

For people of my generation, we worked hard for that opportunity – but it was so much easier than today. For Millennials and Gen Zers, that dream has become a nightmare.

In a housing crisis, we should be doing everything we can to get young people into affordable homes, close to transport and work, family and friends – wherever they want to live. That’s what “more homes” means, and it benefits everyone – including those who want a family home in the outer suburbs or a decent place to downsize locally.

Don’t listen to the blockers who say my plan means high-rises on every street – that’s ridiculous. The biggest change you will notice is more townhouses and low-rise units closer to the station: gentle density. There will be increased height hugging the train stations. That’s the right place for it. But we’ll listen to you to get the level right.

You’ll also see more support for local parks, paths, schools and services – because the communities that build more homes will get more local funding.

And we’ll fast-track the best-looking, highest-quality developments – grand designs without the grand cost.

The blockers will block. They always have. I’m not a blocker, I’m a builder, and I want to be the premier who got more Millennials and Zoomers into homes.

We can’t lock out young people. Let’s find space in our suburbs and in our hearts for the next generation – and build more homes and more opportunity for everyone.

Jacinta Allan is the premier of Victoria.

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