Planners want state cash to speed up land releases

The national peak body for town planners is calling for greater investment in regional housing infrastructure to speed up development in growth areas.

Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) says up-front costs for trunk infrastructure such as water services are a major barrier to land release and is slowing down residential development in regional areas.

PIA Victoria’s president Gabby McMillan said a state-funded support plan should be a priority for Victoria’s new government following November’s state election.

“Regional Victoria has never been more attractive. However, councils and infrastructure providers, especially water authorities, are struggling to fund the basic services that make land ready for development,” Ms McMillan said.

“A coordinated Regional Housing Infrastructure Support Program would alleviate pressure on councils and authorities and provide certainty for the development industry and growing communities.”

Ms McMillan said a state brokerage service to help developers and authorities access Commonwealth funding, such as through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, could also boost availability of regional housing stock, claiming the funding has so far proved difficult to access.

PIA has also called for a share of revenue from the coming windfall gains tax – which would skim profits from land sales that have benefitted from a recent rezoning – to fund essential infrastructure at new estates.

“Planners want to see a share of the windfall gains tax retained by local communities commensurate with growth accommodated by that community,” Ms McMillan said.

“Regional communities can’t thrive or grow if there’s no way to build basic necessities, like water, sewerage, and roads. The state government needs to step in and assist with funding.”