Policy Pillar Four

Heritage & Historical Restrictions on Land Use

Melbourne is Australia's most heritage-protected city. We must allow the next generation to build the city in which they want to live.

Heritage protections should be used for the purpose of preserving the most essential history and urban fabric of our cities for future generations.

Current heritage instruments, most notably heritage overlays, are not fit for purpose. All too often, these tools are abused by small minorities to cynically prevent development and exclude future residents from accessible, affordable housing in Melbourne’s amenity-rich inner- and middle-ring suburbs.

We must undertake significant reform of heritage restrictions and tools to ensure that a greater number of Melbournians are able to access our most vibrant inner-city communities.

We must create a Melbourne that can grow, while still retaining its most iconic architectural fabric.

Heritage & Historical Restrictions on Land Use

Policy areas

Heritage overlay reform

The bar for a property's inclusion in a heritage overlay should be raised, and existing overlays should be standardised and reviewed periodically to ensure they are fit for current and future residents' needs.

Heritage assessment reform

Heritage assessments should consider the costs of an overlay borne by the affected residents and wider community, and the standards for significant, contributory and non-contributory buildings should be consistent across councils.

Heritage cost burden reform

If a building is worth protecting, it should be protected. Local and state governments should pay the additional cost borne by owners to maintain their heritage-protected homes to the standard set by those governments.

Restrictive covenant nullification

Restrictive covenants are byzantine historical restrictions on land use, and overturning them requires an appointment with the Supreme Court. Following NSW, the government must legislate the nullification of restrictive covenants.

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Policy Pillars

Land Use & Zoning

Melbourne is Australia's fastest growing city. It should also be the most affordable, liveable, and sustainable.

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Planning Processes & Governance

Our planning system should create the Melbourne of tomorrow, not the Melbourne of yesterday.

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Taxation, Financing, & Incentives

Government should better capture the value development creates, increase supply, and ensure equitable housing allocation and outcomes.

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Heritage & Historical Restrictions on Land Use

Melbourne is Australia's most heritage-protected city. We must allow the next generation to build the city in which they want to live.

Learn More