Media Release: Manningham Council responds to...

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Manningham Council is preparing a submission to the State Government's proposed new housing targets.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange, said the submission would draw on Council's significant strategic planning work and community feedback.

"We'll use our existing planning and community data to advocate for a range of outcomes that support Manningham's current and emerging needs," Cr Lange said.

The State Government has proposed a draft target of 39,000 new dwellings in Manningham by 2051. This target represents a 76 per cent increase in dwellings over the next 26 years or around 1,500 dwellings per year.

Cr Lange said this represented a significant increase in growth projections for Manningham.

"Over many years, Manningham Council has accepted growth, planned for growth and managed growth in a balanced and incremental way - in close consultation with our local community.

"The increased growth projections, and absence of detailed information provided, are a concern for Council, however we welcome the opportunity to engage with the State Government to ensure positive outcomes for the future of housing in Manningham.

"We're eager to better understand the thinking and data behind the targets and how the state and federal governments will support the market to provide this additional housing," the Mayor added.

Council recently undertook comprehensive community engagement on its Residential Discussion Paper and Activity Centre Design Concepts. These initial phases of engagement will assist in preparation of the draft new Manningham Residential Strategy and Activity Centre Design Guidelines.

As part of the Residential Discussion Paper consultation, more than 70 per cent of respondents said the 'look and feel of their suburb' was their main reason for living there.

Respondents also identified a need for more diverse housing types, including more single level townhouses for downsizers and larger housing to suit intergenerational families.

When asked about preferred housing types needed for the future, single dwellings were the top choice (40 per cent), followed by townhouses (23 per cent).

The community expressed similar values and preferences in their feedback on the Activity Centre Design Concepts.

Around half of the survey participants identified as visiting Park Orchards and Warrandyte Goldfield activity centres most often. Many of these respondents urged the importance of protecting these areas from development because of the sensitive environment, valued character and amenity, and lack of public transport.

"The valuable community insights received through our recent consultations will help inform our submission to the State Government," Cr Lange said.

"Plans for future housing growth should respect the valued neighbourhood attributes of local communities.

"Planning also needs to ensure that the housing delivered is diverse and provides for a range of incomes, lifestyles and life stages. It should also consider the impact on core infrastructure (roads, footpaths, drainage, community facilities), the environment, public transport, traffic and more.

"In addition to commercial development, we also expect that our major and neighbourhood activity centres will play an integral role in accommodating urban growth and development in Manningham," she said.

To date this financial year, Council has approved planning permits for 651 dwellings - with 88 per cent of all our decisions made within the 60-day statutory timeframe.

Like other Councils, Manningham has issued permits for many homes that have not yet been built. As has been widely reported, the delivery of these already approved homes on the ground are challenged by the current economic conditions and rapidly increasing construction costs.

Council will keep the community informed throughout the engagement process with the State Government.

Residents are encouraged to have their say on the State Government's plan for Victoria or learn more about the draft housing targets at engage.vic.gov.au/shape-our-victoria.