Inquiry into the supply of homes in regional Victoria

Just 4% of Ballarat's land permits mixed-use and dense housing—compared to 30% of Melbourne's land

There is an enormous shortfall of land zoned for density, development, and mixed-uses in regional areas.

YIMBY Melbourne has previously demonstrated that there is a shortfall of land zoned for density in Melbourne. That our regional centres have even less capacity should be a clear cause for alarm.

To curtail this, the state government should introduce the Missing Middle Zone to regional centres—enabling six-storey mixed-use development within 3km of town centres, and within 1km of all V/Line stations.

Castlemaine: housing rejections left just 10 homes for rent in November 2024

With homelessness rising faster in the regions than metropolitan areas, the mandate to build should be stronger. Instead, regional councils and residents have been empowered to reject the new homes that people desperately need. 

The state government should curtail third party appeal rights and introduce a regional planning panel with decision making powers to ensure efficient, non-discretionary delivery of all compliant housing, energy, and other key infrastructure projects.

Quotes attributable to Jonathan O'Brien, Lead Organiser

"The only way out of a housing shortage is to build more homes. The only way to build more homes is to permit those homes to be built."

"A direct result of empowering local busybodies to reject the construction of much-needed new homes."