By Sumeyya Ilanbey and Adam Carey
Fifty thousand housing lots will be released by the Andrews government in Melbourne’s sprawling growth corridors, paving the way for 12 new suburbs.
Work will begin on turning the large swathes of land into new suburbs within the next four years, Treasurer Tim Pallas will tell the Urban Development Institute of Australia on Friday.
But almost all of the new suburbs lie beyond the reach of Melbourne’s urban rail network.
Twelve parcels of land will be released to make way for thousands more houses.Credit: Paul Rovere
Six of the 12 parcels of land to be released - in Beveridge North West, Wallan South, Wallan East, Merrifield North, Lindum Vale and Shenstone Park - are currently serviced by the Seymour Line. V/Line trains run hourly in the day and roughly every half-hour in the peak.
The Andrews government is in the early planning phase of investigating extending electrified rail services to Wallan, but has not committed to this.
Mr Pallas says plans for the new suburbs will include a mixture of employment, residential and mixed-use neighbourhoods, and have town centres, cycling and walking paths, and schools.
The announcement follows the rezoning of land in Cardinia Creek South and Minta Farm in Melbourne’s south-east, and Beveridge South in Melbourne’s north, in December, heralding in 16,400 housing lots.
“It’s about unlocking land and providing affordable new homes in well-planned communities,” Mr Pallas will tell the UDIA.
“It’s about giving more Victorians the opportunity to own their own home. And it’s about ensuring new communities have the amenities they deserve - schools, parks, hospitals and transport.”
Treasurer Tim Pallas says the new developments will help first home buyers get into the market.Credit: AFR
Mr Pallas will move to assuage concerns about declining property prices, adding this was an opportunity for first home buyers to get into the market.
It’s about giving more Victorians the opportunity to own their own home.
Treasurer Tim Pallas
But Interface Councils, a peak body representing outer-suburban councils, has warned that if investment in these new suburbs is based on historic funding, the release of 50,000 housing lots would be a "tragedy" for Victoria.
“Already we have overcrowded schools and roads and a poorly-serviced delivery model and an under-serviced public transport network when you move further away from the rail corridors,” said David Hawkins, Interface Councils secretary.
“Research shows that people living in the growth areas have nowhere near the same level of service or infrastructure compared to residents in other parts of Melbourne. While the current government has taken steps to address this, there is a historic lack of underfunding that needs to be urgently addressed.”
Tim Smith, opposition planning and population spokesman, said the release of 50,000 housing lots was not enough to keep up with growth.
"This is too little, too late. This is a drop in the ocean," he said.
The areas where new parcels of land will be opened up for development:
- Beveridge North West
- Wallan South
- Wallan East
- Merrifield North/Kalkallo Basin
- Shenstone Park
- Lindum Vale
- Craigieburn West
- Pakenham East
- Officer South Employment precinct
- Croskell
- Kororoit Part 2
- Aviators Field