UDIA (VIC)

The Urban Development Industry of Australia (Victoria) today said Governments at all levels should treat the provision of housing in Australia as a war effort to provide the next generation with an opportunity to own a home at an affordable price.

Tony De Domenico, Executive Director of the UDIA (Victoria) said,"many Victorians have not only found owning a house out of reach, but even renting was getting beyond the reach of many families, with rent taking up to 50-60% of weekly income, according to the latest recently released report by Australians for Affordable Housing (AAH 19 October 2011)."

"The first step is in providing certainty of land supply and the UDIA has welcomed the Victorian Government's announcement today outlining development corridors of Melbourne which will provide certainty to the land and housing development industry".

"By providing the corridor outlines, the Minister for Planning Matthew Guy will enable the cutting of expensive delays in the rezoning process, which can add thousands of dollars to the final cost of a block of land fuelling housing costs."

"The development industry in Victoria employs directly and indirectly 200,000 people and is one of the major cornerstones of the Victorian economy."

"In the current economic climate, where it is important to cut the costs of bringing land to market, having certainty in development corridors is a major plus for home buyers and the community."

Mr De Domenico said whilst the industry backed the today's announcement there was ongoing concern over the complicated environmental processes which had deteriorated into a pea and thimble exercise for the industry.

"Trying to reconcile the increasing red tape of three levels of government established several years ago, which contributes little to either affordability or in most cases environmental outcomes, is a massive waste of resources and money."

Government media release and links to all documents re the Corridor announcement
http://gaa.vic.gov.au/growth_corridor_planning/

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, UDIA (VIC) - Mobile: 0417 329 201