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Implementation plans
> Housing > What
is the nature of the housing market? > Page 2
What are the main issues that affect housing? (cont.)
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Average
distribution of new dwellings |
Proposed
distribution of new households metropolitan Melbourne
2001-30 |
Overall
distribution of new households |
| Location |
1997–2001 |
2001–05 |
2006–10 |
2011–15 |
2016–20 |
2021–25 |
2026–30 |
2001–30 |
Greenfield development#
|
38% |
52,000
(45.2%) |
42,500
(37.6%) |
32,500
(28.9%) |
25,800
(23.7%) |
23,500
(25.4%) |
17,500
(22.4%) |
193,800
(31%) |
| Activity centres
and other strategic redevelopment sites* |
24% |
30,000
(26.1%) |
36,800
(32.6%) |
47,400
(42.1%) |
52,560
(48.2%) |
46,300
(50.1%) |
41,700
(53.5%) |
254,760
(41%) |
| Dispersed residential
development^ |
38% |
33,000
(28.7%) |
33,700
(29.8%) |
32,600
(29.0%) |
30,640
(28.1%)
|
22,700
(24.5%)
|
18,800
(24.1%) |
171,440
(28%) |
| TOTAL |
100% |
115,000 |
113,000 |
112,500 |
109,000 |
92,500 |
78,000 |
620,000 |
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Table 1. Proposed distribution of
new households across metropolitan Melbourne from 2001–30.
# Greenfield development includes development within identified
growth areas and broad hectare development in fringe areas
outside identified growth areas.
* The likely feasibility of providing for such a proportion
of housing demand in Activity Centres and other strategic
redevelopment sites has been assessed on the basis of development
within 400 metres of identified Principal and Major Activity
Centres and major redevelopment sites close to major public
transport (based on an assessment of completed major redevelopment
sites [Residential Redevelopment in Melbourne, Issue 6], approximately
80 per cent of major redevelopment sites are located close
to major public transport).
^ Dispersed residential development includes development
within established urban areas, remaining major redevelopment
sites not well-located for major public transport, and non-urban
residential development. Non-urban development is generally
located in and around small townships. It currently accounts
for 3 per cent of development and is proposed to account for
1.5 per cent of all additional households by 2030. This equates
to 9,500 households.
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Ensuring housing affordability
Affordability problems in the housing market affect individual households
and the wider community.
High housing costs can adversely affect the living standards and
health of households on low-to-moderate incomes, contributing to
family stress and breakdown and extending their reliance on the
welfare system. The wider community is affected through the labour
market shortages that can result from a lack of affordable housing,
and from consequent rising homelessness, social inequality and concentrations
of disadvantage.
Statistics show a growing shortage of affordable housing. Research
on low-cost rental indicates an absolute decline in the number of
affordable private rental dwellings in Melbourne between 1986–96.
Recent market conditions are unlikely to have reversed this trend.
In addition, the proportion of households deemed to be suffering
housing stress has risen, and ABS figures indicate a declining rate
of home purchase among those aged below 35 years.
Evidence for metropolitan and regional Victoria also shows a trend
to spatial polarisation in the housing market, with some well-serviced
areas becoming too expensive for people on low-to-moderate incomes.
By contrast, some areas with housing that can be afforded but with
limited access to job opportunities, transport, social services
and other benefits of urban living have become locations of concentrated
disadvantage.
Integrating housing and transport
If higher-density housing is expected to meet the needs of a growing
proportion of the metropolitan population, it must be well integrated
with transport nodes and activity centres.
The benefits of integrating housing and transport include:
- a better choice of transport options for residents
- greater use of travel options with lower economic and environmental
impacts
- improved accessibility for people who don’t use cars
- reduced household spending on transport.
Concentrating new housing development in locations that are easily
accessible to existing or proposed train, tram and bus services
will promote sustainability and help achieve housing diversity and
affordability.
Building sustainable neighbourhoods
The achievement of sustainable neighbourhoods and housing will require
their planning to be seen as part of a larger picture that involves
urban and non-urban systems.
In many parts of metropolitan Melbourne, relatively low population
densities and past patterns of development make it difficult to
provide easily accessible local facilities, services, public transport
and job opportunities. This can result in isolation at home or dependence
on others for access to services, and while housing may be relatively
inexpensive in these (usually) outer suburban areas, the overall
costs of living there may be higher than necessary.
Much existing housing in Melbourne is not resource-efficient. An
average urban dwelling produces some
20 tonnes of CO2 greenhouse gas per year and consumes an average
of 239,000 litres of high-quality drinking water. Of this, around
110,000 litres is used for toilet flushing and garden watering.
Melbourne 2030 outlines a set of Neighbourhood Principles
(see Appendix 1). These represent characteristics of liveable neighbourhoods,
incorporating notions of sustainability, community and practical
good sense.
Protecting agricultural activities and
natural resources
At last estimate, there were between 60,000 and 80,000 vacant rural
living lots in the broader central Victoria region that surrounds
metropolitan Melbourne. Better management of housing development
on the fringes of Melbourne will minimise conflict with rural activities
and ensure long-term sustainability of agricultural activities and
natural resources.
Future planning for rural residential development needs to avoid
or significantly reduce adverse economic, social and environmental
impacts and maintain and protect rural areas with environmental,
economic or cultural values.
What does this plan
aim to achieve?
Melbourne 2030 aims to better manage growth and change
across metropolitan Melbourne. This plan seeks to achieve housing
outcomes that will:
- provide appropriate housing for forecast increases in population
and households
- ensure that growth is directed to strategic locations with good
access to services and transport
- ensure a range of housing opportunities within established residential
areas to meet changing lifestyles and housing needs
- deliver well-located affordable housing to meet the needs of
lower-income groups
- promote walking, cycling and public transport as viable transport
alternatives
- build better and more sustainable neighbourhoods.
What does it change?
Planning authorities will need to view opportunities for redevelopment,
and for more intensive development within existing urban areas,
in a more holistic way than in the past to fit a broader regional
context.
This plan spells out changes to the way in which housing will be
planned for. They are as follows:
- new regional housing working groups will provide a forum in
which to identify and discuss housing issues and needs on a broader
regional level
- local councils will be required to identify locations for higher-density
housing and develop appropriate policies and controls
- activity centres will be a focus for a substantial proportion
of new housing
- a new set of State guidelines for higher-density housing will
be developed to guide residential development of four storeys
and above
- the residential subdivision provisions will be updated to incorporate
principles for neighbourhood living, included in Melbourne
2030
- the Department of Infrastructure’s (DOI) monitoring systems
will be improved and strengthened
- surplus government land and government programs will be utilised
to achieve better housing outcomes.
What are the implications
for local government?
Local government will need to develop and implement strategies and
policies that support and implement the directions and policies
of Melbourne 2030. Particularly relevant are Melbourne
2030’s aims to:
- increase the proportion of new housing within the established
urban area, particularly at activity centres and other strategic
sites suitable for redevelopment
- locate higher-density development on sites that are well-located
in relation to activity centres and public transport
- increase the supply of well-located affordable housing.
Councils will be invited to participate in regional housing working
groups. These will provide a forum for identifying housing issues
and needs. They will give councils a regional context in which to
develop their own local housing strategies and policies while taking
into account broader regional issues.
Councils will be required to develop housing strategies or part
of their Municipal Strategic Statement, as a basis for development
of policies and controls to guide the form and design of future
residential development within municipalities.
Councils will be given an opportunity to comment on and participate
in the development of new guidelines for higher-density housing,
and other initiatives that seek to improve the way in which housing
is developed.
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