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MITCHELL SHIRE TO BE VICTORIA’S GROWTH CAPITAL ■ Mitchell Shire has been identified as a top housing future growth centre across all Victorian municipalities. Premier Jacinta Allan and State Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny are announcing specific targets for local government areas. Hundreds of thousands of home sites need to be identifeid for housing needs over the next three decades. The Cloverton area at Kalkallo is expected to be bigger than Canberra in terms of population capacity. Earlier this year, Mitchell Council joined with local government neighbours, Whittlesea and Hume, for a first-ever combined local government meeting to signal a planned approach to the massive planning challenges in the corridor extending north from Melbourne. “To give industry the confidence they need to get on and build, we need government and all councils woprking toward the same goal - more homes for Victorians - in the right places,” Ms Allan said. According to a report in The Sunday Age newspaper, “Beveridge and Wallan in the Mitchell Shire will shoulder the largest percentage increase with the number of dwellings jumping from 21,800 to 89,800 by 2051 - up more than 300 per cent on housing stock.” The report by journalist Annika Smethurst said: “The housing tagerts are part of Labor’s ambitious plan to build 800,000 homes over the next 10 years in a policy move described by then Premier Daniel Andrews as - ‘the most comprehensive shake-up of one the most important policy area in decades’.” Councils may well have to negotiate their planning powers with the State Government. “We want to work in partnership with Councils to build more homes in the areas where people live - close to the people they love and the things they have to do,” Msw Kilkenny was quoted to say. “Victoria’s councils will have the first chance to show where and how they can unlock space for new homes over the coming decades, with the Allan Labor Government kicking off the next stage of local government consultation on draft housing capacity targets tailored for every local government area in the state,” said a State Government representative. “Victoria has the largest annual population growth of all Australian states, and it needs more than two million additional homes by the 2050s. But where these homes go matters. “More homes are needed in established suburbs – close to jobs, transport, education, and services – to give more young people the chance to live near where they grew up, and to reduce future growth pressure on families in Melbourne’s booming outer suburbs. That’s where the targets come in. “The draft council housing targets are largely based on access to the jobs, transport and ser-
● Sonya Kilkenny, Planning Minister
Year 2051 target for Mitchell Shire homes is 68,000 vices Victorians need. By reaching their targets, many council areas across inner and middle Melbourne would double their number of new dwellings every year – helping deliver the Housing Statement goal of 70 per cent of new homes going in established areas and 30 per cent in outer-suburban growth areas. “Victoria’s councils have the powers to unlock space for more homes by proposing changes to local planning rules. The Government will consult closely with councils to harness their local knowledge, with councils to report back on the draft target and the local changes they propose. “While the Labor Government has invested billions of dollars in level crossing removals, public transport upgrades, new schools and hospitals – and is getting on with the Suburban Rail Loop – it also wants to hear from councils about the continued infrastructure support that communities need to grow sustainably. “The targets were outlined in the landmark Housing Statement and are the next stage of the discussion Government is having with Victorians as part of the new plan for Victoria – a longterm vision for Victoria’s next 30 years.”