The Victorian Government is working to unlock more land across the state to make it easier to build. Image: Development Victoria.
The Victorian Labor Government is making a concerted effort to unlock more land in the state, aiming to make it easier to build much-needed housing.
Blocks of land set to be freed up are in established suburbs along train lines and are close to employment, schools and services.
Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts Harriet Shing announced that two sites in Brighton, one in Preston and one in Camberwell would be added to existing locations under the Small Sites Program.
The four new sites are at 29 Lindsay Street and 1 Marion Street at Brighton, 28A and 30A Jessie Street at Preston and 714 Burke Road, Camberwell.
“We’re unlocking more land to deliver more homes for Victorian families in established suburbs,” Ms Shing said.
“Every Victorian deserves a roof over their head and a place to call home, and this program opens up more opportunity for homes that are close to jobs, schools, services and the outdoor spaces that families love.”
These new additions are in addition to six sites announced earlier this year in Croydon South, Heidelberg West, Carlton, Baxter, Bendigo and Geelong.
Expressions of interest are open for developers with experience in delivering medium-density housing to submit their proposals across the 10 sites.
The four sites added are ideal for townhouses or apartments, and the government said they could deliver 700 new homes, with affordable housing making up at least 10 per cent of the various sites.
The program builds on the earlier release of the Small Sites Program, which included four pilot sites in Malvern, Preston, Alphington and Coburg. The program pipeline now involved 14 parcels of land, with the potential to deliver up to 1000 new homes across the state, the government said.
Many of the areas with newly unlocked land, such as North Brighton, Preston and Camberwell, are already serviced by public transport due to their inclusion in the Train and Tram Zone Activity Centre Program.
By 2051, the government said, Train and Tram Zones would help deliver more than 300,000 homes, with consultation for 50 new centres expected for completion in 2026.
