STRATEGIES

ACTIONS

Regulation

1. Continue to support housing diversity and choice via Council’s planning policies.

1.1 Review and update the Monash Housing Strategy 2014.

1.2 Investigate mechanisms for requiring the provision of affordable housing in planning for Activity Centres.

2. Establish strong policy statements about the need for affordable housing in Monash

2.1 Seek a planning scheme amendment to include a strong statement of support for affordable housing contributions in Monash.

2.2 Include a strong policy statement for the provision of a 6 per cent affordable housing contribution in major redevelopment or through residential rezoning proposals.

3. Require an affordable housing contribution when land is being rezoned to facilitate residential development, or in residential developments of 20 or more dwellings.

3.1 Develop a policy to implementing an affordable housing contribution through rezoning processes.

3.2 Develop Council’s policy and approach to negotiating an affordable housing contribution in residential development applications proposing 20 or more dwellings.

4. Consider the application of an inclusionary zoning requirement for affordable housing when planning for activity centres.

4.1 Develop Council policy and approach to the application of inclusionary zoning requirements for affordable housing when planning for activity centres.

4.2 Subject to Action 4.1, seek a 6 per cent affordable housing contribution for land in a commercial zone or land that will be rezoned to a more intense residential zone following planning for activity centres.

6. Establish processes to support the negotiation and delivery of affordable housing contributions.

6.1 Investigate the development and community housing industry’s preferred delivery methods for affordable housing.

Partnership

7. Engage with and educate the community on social and affordable housing as important local infrastructure.

7.1 Develop an approach to educating the community on the need for and benefits of social and affordable housing.

7.2 Work with external housing and advocacy groups to promote and facilitate affordable housing provision and awareness.

7.3 Promote the activities of external agencies active in addressing affordable housing such as Homes for Homes and Housing All Australians

8. Adopt a relationship building, information sharing and brokerage role between the development and the affordable housing sectors,

8.1 Publish information on the Community Housing Sector for developers and provide a single point of contact at Council for enquiries.

Investment

9. Consider opportunities for affordable housing on appropriate Council-owned land and as part of Council developments.

9.1 Investigate opportunities in Council development and on Council owned land for affordable housing provision.

9.2 Develop and test a process for developing appropriate Council owned sites for affordable housing outcomes.

Advocacy

11. Advocate independently and through the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance (EAHA) for mandatory inclusionary zoning, tax reform and direct government investment and subsidies in affordable housing.

11.1 Independently and through the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance further develop policy positions and advocate collectively for:

• Policy and taxation reforms to increase housing affordability
• Policy and taxation reforms to encourage investment in affordable housing provision, particularly from large institutional investors such as superannuation funds, long term rentals
• Mandatory affordable housing inclusionary zoning
• Funds levied through the Windfall Gains Tax when land is rezoned to be directed into the provision of affordable housing