Victoria working with the Australian Government on Nation Building

In February 2009 the Australian Government committed $42 billion through the Nation Building: Economic Stimulus Plan to provide critical community infrastructure in education, social housing, transport and the environment.

The Social Housing Initiative, part of the overall plan, provides $5.65 billion to state and territory governments (Victoria's allocation is $1.3 billion over the next three years) to boost the supply of rental housing currently available for disadvantaged Australians.

Victoria will deliver 4,500 new homes and make improvements affecting a further 5,600 homes. These construction and maintenance works, most of which must be completed next year, will also provide a significant boost to jobs and businesses across Victoria.

The new housing to be delivered in Victoria has been selected against guidelines established by the Australian Government and a set of complimentary priorities established by the Victorian Government.

What's happening in Victoria

Construction

As the deadline for delivery of stage one properties is 30 June 2010, an intensive inspection, valuation and negotiation process is underway and contracts to supply these homes are now being finalised. Already a number of stage one projects have been completed with tenants having moved in.

The Office of Housing has now assessed registrations of interest for stage two development sites and turnkey projects against the Australian and Victorian Government guidelines. Recommendations for all stage two projects were submitted to the Australian Government by the 30 June 2009 deadline. The Australian Government returned a notional approvals list on 31 August 2009.

With these approvals the Office of Housing will complete physical inspections of sites and the Valuer General will provide a valuation for projects. Provided the projects meet requirements, negotiations will proceed.

All registrants will be advised of the outcome once assessment of proposals against the selection criteria and the approvals process has been completed.

Following the announcement of Victoria's new planning provisions, it is possible some projects may be put forward to the Planning Minister's office for fast tracked planning approval.

Maintenance

Through the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, $99.2 million has allocated to provide urgent maintenance and refurbishment of public and community housing.

Hundreds of properties across Victoria, including crisis and transitional housing, rooming houses, and long-term public and community housing are receiving maintenance works.

The maintenance program will provide direct improvements, or improvements to common facilities, to about 5,600 homes.

The improvements will extend the life of housing by up to 15 years and enable about 1,600 homes that would have been lost to public and community housing to be retained.

For further information email nation.building@dhs.vic.gov.au or phone 03 9096 5809.