Yarra’s Housing Strategy was adopted in September 2018:
The strategy supports housing growth and housing choice, and directs growth toward ‘appropriate locations’.
The strategy seeks to direct new housing to areas within or close to activity areas that have good access to public transport, open space, and other services and limit housing growth in established residential areas, consistent with Plan Melbourne, state and regional policy, and also community feedback.
Yarra Housing Strategy 2018
For example, shopping streets (or public transport corridors) are defined as moderate change areas or high change areas:
C269
The adopted Housing Strategy helped council to prepare the C269 amendment to Yarra’s Planning Scheme, which supported housing growth along shopping streets and activity corridors. The amendment is now awaiting approval from the state government Minister for Planning.
Productivity Commission
In August 2022 the Productivity Commission released its report into housing:
The report acknowledges that we have a problem:
Australia has a housing affordability problem. Australians, particularly those on low incomes, are spending more on housing than they used to. Many low-income private renter households spend a large share of their income on rent. Demand for social housing is rising. More people are seeking help for homelessness and more are being turned away. Home ownership rates are falling, particularly for young Australians.
Productivity Commission
The report makes findings and recommendations which support Yarra’s Housing Strategy and C269 amendment:
Conclusion
We welcome the report from the Productivity Commission, and urge the Minister for Planning to approve the C269 amendment. Even better would be for the City of Yarra to unlock further housing growth in neighbourhoods, using the planning approach suggested by Strong Towns:
Published 18th October 2022