Council Reform Key to Unlock Renewal Development Sites

John Cicero
24 March 2017

As a 28-level tower has recently been given approval as part of Lendlease’s $2.5 billion Melbourne Quarter project in the Docklands, debate turned to the role of local councils in urban renewal sites and precincts.In an article by the Herald Sun published on March 22, John Cicero, a Principal at Best Hooper Lawyers and chair of the UDIA Planning Committee, said that for those who have been in involved in urban renewal precincts it was often very hard to obtain the cooperation of

In an article by the Herald Sun published on March 22, John Cicero, a Principal at Best Hooper Lawyers and chair of the UDIA Planning Committee, said that for those who have been in involved in urban renewal precincts it was often very hard to obtain the cooperation of local government.

He said that unless and until there were reforms to the planning system to make local councils accountable for decisions that they make in relation to rezoning requests then councils should be removed from the planning process for such sites or precincts.

Given that the Melbourne Quarter project is expected to generate thousands of jobs and homes in line with the government’s new Plan Melbourne policy, supporting the city’s need for 1.5m dwellings and an extra 1.5 million jobs up to 2051, the property industry needs the appropriate tools to deliver the housing Melbourne needs in these important urban renewal areas.

Demand for cheaper housing on the city fringe will continue to grow, but, without reform, the city will struggle to deliver the housing required in our inner and middle suburbs where so many of these urban renewal opportunities exist.