With the entire country in the grip of a housing crisis, Australia’s state and territory governments are undertaking a wide range of projects to create more homes.
In Victoria, the State Government has set significant targets for housing development and initiated numerous projects.
The State Government’s development arm, Development Victoria, has been partnering with industry and communities to deliver the best possible housing outcomes for Victorians.
Council had the opportunity to speak with Development Victoria’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Joanne Wandel, about the vital role local government plays in residential projects.
Ms Wandel explained that one of Development Victoria’s primary function is to work with other agencies to unlock surplus government sites and redevelop them for a range of purposes across housing, precinct and civic outcomes.
Ms Wandel said that Development Victoria has a long history in delivering housing across the state’s residential communities, and that the Housing Statement, which was released in 2023 by the State Government, is a key policy driver for the organisation.
“At Development Victoria we deliver diverse and affordable housing, making home ownership possible for more Victorian’s, and the Housing Statement, further reinforces the importance of this,” Ms Wandel said.
“In the last five years, we have delivered 1,500 homes across a range of townhouses, apartments, and also land lots. In the next five years we intend to deliver a further 2,500 new homes. Across our portfolio, over the next ten years, we will be responsible for delivering approximately 9,000 new homes.”
Collaborating with councils
Ms Wandel said that the Housing Statement presents a rightly ambitious target, given how many people are finding it harder than ever before to find an affordable home.
“It’s a really ambitious policy, and we can’t do all of that work on our own.
“In the last 12 months, we’ve engaged and worked closely with more than 20 local councils across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. We know that Victoria is growing at an incredibly fast pace. Councils are very connected to their communities, so it’s really important to us that we work closely with those councils in which we’re delivering projects to ensure that we’re delivering the best outcomes.”
Development Victoria has worked with many councils in the delivery of housing projects. One of the housing projects that Development Victoria has long been associated with is its Aurora residential project at Epping.
“This project has been going for almost 20 years and in that time, we’ve delivered homes for 9,000 people, so we have a really established community at our Aurora development, which is close to schools and jobs and all of the essential services necessary to support a residential community.”
Development Victoria delivered approximately 2,000 affordable and diverse housing opportunities between 2005 to 2016 – all located within walking distance to the Aurora Town Centre, schools, open space and public transport.
Aurora incorporates many leading-edge environmental design elements, including six-star energy designed homes and class A recycled water delivered to every home.
Combined, Aurora’s six-star energy efficient homes are estimated to be able to save up to 5t of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Ms Wandel explained that one of Development Victoria’s newest residential projects is the Luma development in Sunshine North.
“It’s an emerging, growing part of Melbourne in the bustling west, and there we’re delivering approximately 300 townhouses at a former water authority site. Part of what Development Victoria does is identify underutilised government land and look at how we can repurpose it, in this instance, for residential development.
“It’s a site that is really well located to the new Sunshine Hospital, to transport and to employment opportunities for new residents that are going to call Luma home.”
Building stronger partnerships
Ms Wandel said that councils being the closest level of government to communities makes them valuable project partners.
“They are obviously hearing a lot from their communities about what’s important to them, both from what makes a thriving community, but also in terms of the connections and public spaces they’d like to see in and around those communities.
“For us, it’s really important that we have an open and ongoing dialogue with the councils in which we’re delivering our projects, that ensures our projects reflect the needs and aspirations of the community.
“As with all working relationships, there’s going to be times when our project objectives don’t fully align, but I think it’s important to recognise that ultimately, for both councils and for state government, we have a single objective at heart, which is ensuring that we’re delivering the right outcome for our communities.”
Ms Wandel said that Development Victoria is eager to maintain a strong dialogue, and that through good communication councils and government can make well-informed decisions that lead to positive community outcomes.
“If councils are interested in the work that we’re doing, we’d absolutely love to talk more to them about the projects that we’re delivering in their areas.”
More than just building houses
Ms Wandel said that one of Development Victoria’s most important principles is that it is not just constructing homes, but creating new communities.
“We create places for people, that means that we’re thinking about our projects through various lenses. It’s about ensuring that we can deliver affordable and diverse housing supply into the communities in which we’re working.
“And we know a community is where people come together, which is why we have our master planned communities, such as our project at Riverwalk in Werribee, are so important. Riverwalk is a former Melbourne Water site. We’ve joined with Melbourne Water to deliver a new community there and when fully complete it will include approximately 2600 homes as well as retail, commercial, employment, education and community spaces close to services and transport.
“We’re providing a diverse range of homes for a diverse range of people from an affordability perspective, and we’re also providing public realm.”
Ms Wandel said that local councils play a pivotal role in the housing projects Development Victoria is undertaking, which are absolutely critical at the moment.
“Right across Australia, people are finding it really challenging to find an affordable home which is close to services, schools and education opportunities. It’s probably never been harder, and that’s why the government has released the Victorian Housing Statement, which has an ambitious target of delivering 800,000 new homes over the next ten years.
“Development Victoria plays a key role in delivery of the housing statement, and we can’t do it without partnerships across all levels of government.”
