Victorian planner

Commentate on Victorian town planning by a town planner.

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

Will the SRL have enough funding even if it is not cut? Will it ever stack up given its huge cost? How much would it cost the economy and government in debt?

[The Age @theage]

Peter Dutton pledges to axe $2.2b funding from Suburban Rail Loop.
https://t.co/CtHd3RXmzH

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

A few projects that could get done, instead of one big project without enough funding or an adequate business case.

[Herald Sun @theheraldsun]

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will scrap the Albanese government’s promised $2.2bn contribution to the rail loop and divert the money elsewhere, including to the airport rail link, if he wins the election > https://t.co/PiahWkwmLO

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

How much will the government need to allow to build to value capture enough for the SRL budget? https://t.co/8cncTYCSMT

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

On what basis can the minister approve this if it was previously heard and rejected by VCAT already? Are we going to sacrifice everything else just for even more housing than the 134 approved already? https://t.co/eV5DezkHNs

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

“While councils and planners back more housing, they condemn the government’s “one-size-fits-all” approach, warning it will allow generic, boxy, three-storey buildings to reshape neighbourhoods statewide.” https://t.co/r2gScyGgkb

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

Everything requires a business case and cost benefit analysis. It is great to have but at what cost? Can so much of the project really be funded simply by value capture? Is the land value going to be so much higher than other activity centres?

[The Age @theage]

The Suburban Rail Loop’s business case canvassed ways to walk away from the project if it did not receive its expected funding.
https://t.co/MUDv0M4USm

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

Pretty irresponsible and arrogant for the government to proceed without a proper business case, and starting by simply assuming it will be funded by the federal government when they have valid questions on value capture https://t.co/n07DV9uHmJ

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

‘Gaslighting and manipulation’. Why can’t the state government do some proper consultation rather than simply pushing their agenda at all cost. https://t.co/wtDh9NfEzL

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

More buses and trams and social housing. Sensible plan on what’s actually needed as improvements rather than big ticket projects https://t.co/tQn9F6laqn

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

If the government wants canopy coverage, why do they make it so easy for people to remove trees and moonscape the land for developments? There is not even a need to protect neighbour’s trees! https://t.co/GFnAUpJUnz

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

Why does the government think they can approve VC267 without putting it into the planning scheme? It is causing so much confusion for everyone with consultants advising different start dates. It is only recently the government can confirm itself what the actual start date is!

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

The government has decided to push through new planning changes for townhouses without consultation of the final draft with key stakeholders. It is a disaster waiting to happen with questions from planners, developers, owners, communities, everybody.

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

Why would the government require private developments to only have a tree canopy cover of 10%, when they want the city to have 30%? How does public land make up for the shortfall? Can we really fit many more trees in the streets?

[The Age @theage]

New tree canopy targets for Melbourne will be impossible to achieve without huge funding to rip up asphalt on public streets, experts say.
https://t.co/3KarMPH1ze

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

What does the government actually want by setting conflicting targets of more canopy cover and more intense housing?
https://t.co/GFnAUpJUnz

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

What are the alternatives for people get to these centres if they don’t live near a train station? Is there going to be a significant increase in bus services? Wanting everyone to walk and cycle is just impractical.

[The Age @theage]

The number of new parking spaces in suburbs with Suburban Rail Loop stations would be capped and councils urged to impose fresh parking restrictions
https://t.co/MP0658v8Sk

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

A labor government that doesn’t want public housing? There is nothing wrong with government run public housing. Why do we have to privatise everything?

[The Age @theage]

Public housing towers to be demolished in Melbourne’s inner north will be replaced by developments with nearly 1000 more apartments but no public housing.
https://t.co/5gT8nAhr9H

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

“The lack of skilled labour remains the biggest constraint on a housing sector that has only ever completed a maximum 223,564 homes in any 12-month period”

[Financial Review @FinancialReview]

A pickup in approvals after nearly 2½ years of decline has economists cheering – although developers say further incentives are needed. https://t.co/oL6pMF1fCR

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

A significant reduction in objectors rights for the new townhouse code as they likely can’t appeal council’s approval if it meets code.

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

A lot of land is at risk of local flooding, contamination, bushfire prone etc but not identified by overlays. Under the townhouse code councils can’t really take this into account? Seriously we want housing so much we don’t care if the land is contaminated?

[Victorian planner @vicplan]

The new townhouse code means councils can’t assess neighbourhood character and even state policies or planning, as long as it meets the code in a tick box exercise. No assessment of design so new housing will likely look as bland and ugly as they can to drive down cost.