Victorian Coalition pledges to overturn Labor’s activity centre housing policy

Victoria’s Coalition has promised to abandon Labor’s activity centres housing policy if elected, restore third-party appeal rights for residents and give councils more influence over development decisions.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said high-rise housing would instead be focused on Melbourne’s CBD and inner city, rather than applying Labor’s density targets to established suburbs. The competing approaches come as the state election approaches.

In Armadale, a developer has applied to replace five single-storey units on Mercer Road with a six-storey building containing 29 two- and three-bedroom apartments. The proposal includes two underground parking levels and is about 900 metres from the train station.

Dave Corrigan, who lives opposite the site, objected to the proposed building’s location within the street rather than on a main road. His ability to challenge it is limited by planning changes introduced in April.

Under the government’s deemed-to-comply rules, proposals satisfying state standards can receive approval without the normal opportunities for objections and appeals. Labor says the changes will streamline approvals and increase certainty for developers. Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr said councils had little room to change proposals that met those standards.

The government has designated 60 activity centres, including Armadale, for denser housing around major public transport routes. Some locations allow buildings reaching 20 storeys or higher. Labor estimates another 2.24 million homes are needed in Victoria by 2051, targeting at least 70 per cent for established areas.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said the previous system had failed to supply sufficient housing in places people wanted to live. She said developments in activity centres would contribute towards infrastructure, including schools, parks, roads and community facilities.