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Media Release
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Regional Victoria to become the Lungs of Melbourne
Friday, 14 October 2011 13:03
Regional Victoria will become the lungs of Melbourne providing a release valve to take the increasing population pressure on Melbourne and its expanding fringe suburbs, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) - UDIA (VIC) claimed today.
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Tony De Domenico |
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Around 5 million people live in Victoria, the second largest population of any state in Australia with 70% living in Melbourne despite the fact Victoria as the smallest state in Australia has major regional centres within easy reach of Melbourne.
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) announced it would establish a new Northern Regional Chapter of the organisation based in Bendigo which will cover Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour and Ballarat development regions.
This is the second regional chapter in Victoria following the success of the Geelong Chapter.
Tony De Domenico, Executive Director of the UDIA (VIC) said, "The new chapter will be officially launched by the Victorian Minister for Planning, the Hon. Matthew Guy at the State Conference this morning."
Mr De Domenico said, "The lower cost of land in regional areas also provides a major opportunity to address housing affordability issues, which at present is putting the Great Australia Dream of home ownership beyond many Victorian young people and families."
The median price of a house in Melbourne in the December quarter 2010 was $601,500. In the same period the cost in Greater Bendigo was $258.000.* (Source: REIV) "The closely aligned land development and housing industry directly generates a wide range of employment opportunities through their investment and development of homes." Mr De Domenico said apart from the initial employment generated through development of new housing projects, a growing population of regional and country Victoria creates a stronger sustainable consumer market for all local businesses. The UDIA (VIC) considers that the regions should be strengthened; significant growth in the population of Australia's medium sized cities would produce a range of economic and social benefits. "Most people are looking to live somewhere where they have an acceptable level of amenity: access to comfortable, affordable housing, access to work, access to recreation and leisure activities and access to shops." "Appropriate infrastructure will drive demand for areas identified for growth. People want to be connected and have public transport and transport corridors." "The connection of regional Victoria to metropolitan Melbourne will also become one of the most important long term strategies to boost sustainable employment opportunities in regional and country Victoria." "For growth to be sustainable, people need jobs, transport, infrastructure and a mix of housing." Mr De Domenico said the establishment of the Northern Regional Chapter of the UDIA would provide an increased opportunity to work closely with the City of Bendigo, local business organisations and all levels of government to promote the importance on the creating affordable housing and employment opportunities with well planned and timely infrastructure. Median home prices - metropolitan Melbourne, (December quarter, 2010) Median home prices - regional Victoria (December quarter, 2010) Media Enquiries:
"Affordable new housing projects designed to blend into the existing regional and country environment also provide major social benefits to regions by encouraging the growth of a younger population as well as creating employment opportunities within the region."
Houses - $601,500 Units and apartments $480,000
Greater Ballarat - $276,750
Greater Bendigo - $258,000
Greater Geelong - $379,750
Source: Real Estate Institute of Victoria
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, UDIA (VIC) - Mobile: 0417 329 201