Social housing is top of the list of Victorians’ infrastructure needs, a report reveals.
Released by Infrastructure Victoria, the report – Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy – recommends the government fund a 15-year program to build 4,000 social homes each year.
Having asked 18,500 Victorians what their most important infrastructure goals are, the independent advisory body places social housing top of a list of 46 recommendations.
“New social housing should be built in places close to jobs, transport and services, both in Melbourne and regional Victoria,” says the report. “Priority should be given to housing for Victorians on low incomes who have recently experienced homelessness, family violence or have other special needs.”
While acknowledging that building 60,000 social homes will be expensive, Infrastructure Victoria says it is achievable when delivered as a program over 15 years. Upfront investment is the most cost-effective way to fund the program, says the report. “The new program should fund both Homes Victoria and registered housing providers.”
To lower costs, the government can build more public housing on well-located government land. “It can fund community housing providers to build more homes by expanding the Social Housing Growth Fund. It should also partner with Aboriginal housing providers to build homes for Aboriginal Victorians.”
The 15-year program will reduce homelessness and housing stress in Victoria. “But it will not end it,” says the report. “As the population grows, the government will need to keep investing in social housing. It can create a long-term pipeline to deliver more social homes over time.”
“Our recommendations aim to meet the needs of Victorians.”
Public transport reform also ranked high on the list of Victorians’ infrastructure needs. The report recommends the government extend Melbourne’s trams “to encourage more new homes nearby” and “increase services on key tram routes in activity centres that have been designated for additional housing development”.
The advisory body also calls for faster bus services, more often, in Victoria’s largest cities. “Run buses more often, for longer hours, and give buses priority on the road. In stages, straighten out existing bus routes so they are fast and direct,” says the report. There should also be more bus services in regional Victoria “to better connect small towns to regional cities”.
Off-peak public transport should be cheaper and regional fare zones simplified. “After upgrading the Myki ticketing system, charge lower fares for off-peak travel on Victoria’s buses, trains and trams. Simplify fares and reduce the number of regional fare zones,” says the report.
Sustainability is also on the minds of Victorians. The report calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from infrastructure. “Adopt carbon values and measure carbon in infrastructure projects to reduce emissions. Advance integrated water management and use more recycled water.”
Infrastructure Victoria recommends the government “determine the costs and benefits of introducing recycled drinking water in Melbourne and Geelong and build a pilot recycled drinking water facility”.
The report also calls for better use of government land for open space and greenery. The government should “fund actions to better connect open spaces to each other and plant more trees and shrubs in urban areas. Give Victorians access to more public land in fast-growing suburbs.”
Other recommendations in the report address education – delivering more kindergartens and schools, and expanding TAFE campuses in Melbourne’s growth areas – healthcare – including investment in digital healthcare – and climate change – “Better prepare infrastructure for climate change,” says the report, so that “Victoria is resilient to climate change and other future risks”.
As the Infrastructure Victoria report acknowledges: “No single draft recommendation will address the hopes of all Victorians, nor can infrastructure solve all of Victoria’s challenges. But our draft recommendations aim to meet the infrastructure needs of current and future Victorians. When governments provide people with the infrastructure they need, communities become more resilient and able to thrive.”
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