Urban Development Institute of Australia calls for housing targets to tackle population boom

A DEVELOPERS’ lobby group wants the state government to set housing targets to ensure we can manage Melbourne’s rapid population growth.

SUBURBS which don’t pull their weight on housing supply should be punished with less investment in parks and other infrastructure, says a developer lobby.

Urban Development Institute of Australia state chief executive Danni Addison said the state government should set housing targets for each council area to help cope with Melbourne’s rapid population growth.

“That new housing stock, if delivered, should be accompanied by infrastructure investment from government,” she told a UDIA event on Friday.

ABS SAYS MELBOURNE POPULATION SKYROCKETING

BUILD-TO-RENT PROJECTS CAN EASE VICTORIA’S HOUSING CRISIS

POPULATION BOOM REQUIRES VISIONARY POLICY

“And if it’s not delivered where it should be, then investment in infrastructure in those areas should be restricted.”

Some developers told the event that municipalities like Boroondara and Stonnington in the city’s east and southeast were not providing their fair share of new housing.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne.

Tao House is an 82-apartment development at 19-21 Poplar St, Box Hill.

Ms Addison said there were “some politically unpalatable areas of Melbourne where growth is uncomfortable ideologically or from a position of NIMBYism (not in my backyard)”.

“But if that growth were to be followed and serviced by infrastructure then I think the community would definitely be more at ease with accepting growth,” she said.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said that Melbourne had the highest growth rate of any city in the developed world.

“We think there are enormous continuing opportunities (for development) available in those middle-ring suburbs which are just rich in amenity, rich in public transport and are great places to live,” he said.

Mr Wynne said that high development areas like Box Hill and Doncaster Hill showed the potential of providing housing around activity centres.