‘Bold’ Victoria blitz set to clear the backlog of 1,400 planning permit applications

To begin, it has launched a recruitment campaign for 90 new planners to be based in the Department of Transport and Planning.

They are set to help clear a backlog of approximately 1,400 planning permit applications for multiunit housing that have sat with councils for more than six months as they await a decision. According to the Victorian government, 550 of these have been with councils for more than 12 months.

By clearing the backlog, the government said around 4,900 new homes would be delivered to Victorians “who need them”. In addition, 78 of the projects have a development cost of more than $10 million.

Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny, and Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney have jointly explained that the planners will be based in the Department of Transport and Planning, and will work in partnership with councils to support planners at a local level.

The intended effect is to “make good decisions faster” and deliver the state’s planning priorities.

The Premier acknowledged that having applications “stuck in the system doesn’t get homes built”.

“Right now, the system just isn’t working like it should – that’s why we’re hiring 90 new planners to clear the backlog and make good decisions faster,” she said.

Also weighing in, Minister Kilkenny expressed that continuing the status quo “is not an option”.

Calling the reform a “bold” one, she said the initiative “will give industry the certainty it needs to get on with building the 800,000 new homes we have to build in Victoria over the next decade”.

Just over a month ago, Victoria released its Housing Statement – The Decade Ahead 2024–2034, which set out the intention to build 800,00 homes, and outlined their commitment to building the needed infrastructure to promote development as well as a pledge to invest in training the workforce needed to create these homes.

It also introduced an “affordability partnership” with the housing industry, stating that it would be working alongside the Property Council of Australia, Master Builders Victoria, the Urban Development Institute of Australia, as well as the Housing Industry Association and Super Housing Partnerships as part of the plan.