UDIA Slams New Interim Planning Controls for Melbourne CBD

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) has opposed the Victorian Government's decision to impose interim planning controls in Melbourne’s CBD without industry consultation.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne announced a Central City Planning Review which was welcomed by the Urban Development Institute. However, the Minister also introduced

interim planning controls on Friday night which have applied mandatory height controls and a discretionary plot ratio of 24:1 to buildings in the CBD and parts of neighbouring Southbank.

The Institute’s Victorian chief executive Danni Addison said that while the Institute would support the intentions of the Central City Planning Review, it vigorously opposed the Minister’s action to introduce interim controls of this nature overnight, without any consultation with the urban development industry.

Ms Addison called on the State Government to open its eyes to the longer term implications of its actions and said that, “now is not the time to be undermining investor confidence nor is it the time to be sending messages to the business community that Melbourne is closed for business. "“Melbourne’s competitiveness must be maintained both in the national and global context," she said.

"Investment and capital are very mobile and unless Melbourne remains an attractive investment destination, we are in grave danger of losing future employment and limiting our ability to deliver the housing our communities need.”

Ms Addison stated that, “the merits of addressing issues such as amenity and preserving Melbourne’s liveability are very much supported by the urban development industry. However the blunt action by the Minister in introducing interim controls without warning has set the tone for this important and complex discussion.”

"Swift, uncanvassed action such as that taken overnight by the Planning Minister serves only one purpose – to undermine investor confidence, which can only lead to reduced activity," said Ms Addison.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia will work closely with the Planning Minister to ensure that the industry’s concerns are considered and employment and housing opportunities for all Victorians remain at the forefront of this debate.