$86.2 million to put housing in reach for more Victorians

The Brumby Labor Government unveiled a two-pronged approach to put housing within the reach of more Victorians, with $86.2 million in 2008-09 State Budget initiatives designed to free up more land more quickly and to improve access to public housing for people on low-incomes.

The Minister for Housing Richard Wynne said the initiatives announced today built on the biggest single investment in public housing by any State Government in Australia – $510 million for 2350 affordable homes – announced in last year’s State Budget.

“The Brumby Labor Government understands the pressure that finding a home can exert on Victorian families, and we are taking action,” Mr Wynne said.

“Housing affordability is an issue across the nation. In Victoria, the Brumby Labor Government is committed to taking the practical steps to put housing within reach of more Victorians.”

The Minister for Planning Justin Madden said the Premier, John Brumby, had made housing affordability a Victorian Government priority, announcing reforms earlier this year to free up more land and to simplify and reduce the costs of housing development.

“Victoria’s population is growing faster than predicted and the Brumby Labor Government is taking action to deliver sustainable growth and build strong, new communities,” Mr Madden said.

“Earlier this year the Premier announced key reforms to help reduce the cost of new land, to cut development time and red tape and to build sustainable new communities with the services Victorian families need.”

Brumby Labor Government housing initiatives in the 2008-09 State Budget are:

• $15 million over four years for the Department of Planning and Community Development to provide more land for housing and reduce costs for purchasers by working with the three tiers of Government to release land faster and at less cost;
• $37.9 million to deliver additional housing in high demand areas such as Ringwood, Werribee, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Frankston, Dandenong and Footscray, as well as more housing for indigenous people;
• $29.1 million over four years for the Opening Doors initiative to improve access to housing and homelessness services, by streamlining assessment for housing assistance; and
• $4.2 million over four years to support vulnerable social housing tenants maintain tenancies.

Mr Wynne said the public housing measures announced today would help increase housing stock available for the most vulnerable Victorians.

“These Brumby Labor Government public housing initiatives will make it easier for homeless people – and those at risk of homelessness – to access services that will help them,” he said.

“We are also improving our support for the most vulnerable Victorians to remain in social housing and rooming houses by providing a better safety net of support.

“Since 1999, the Victorian Government has invested $940 million to address homelessness, providing support for more than 150,000 Victorian households each year.”