Social Housing Renewal Standing Advisory Committee Parliamentary Committee

Social Housing Renewal Standing Advisory Committee Parliamentary Committee Kathy Mitchell and Sarah Carlisle Chair and Deputy Chair, Social Housing Renewal Advisory Committee 15 February 2018

About Advisory Committees Public participation Independent Advise and recommend 2 Advisory Committee are established under the s 151 and s 152 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) and are a means of facilitating public participation in the planning and environment decision making process. Like Planning Panels and EES Inquiries, Advisory Committees provide a process to independently assess planning scheme changes or development proposals through consideration of submissions, conduct of public hearings and preparation of reports. Advisory Committees are advisory and make recommendations; with the final decision made by the Minister for Planning.

Advisory Committees | Enabling Legislation • Advisory Committees are appointed by the Minister for Planning pursuant to s 151 and s 152 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to advise on any matter the Minister for Planning refers to it. • Generally established to consider one of the following types of matters: • • 3 – proposals for a specific site (eg 3 RRR, Moonee Ponds) – review of current state policy (eg development contributions, residential zones) – matters called-in by the Minister from the Planning Division of VCAT (eg Vincent. Care homelessness centre, Wangaratta solar farm) All Advisory Committees are provided with Terms of Reference which direct the framework of consideration (including timeframes). Upon completion, Advisory Committee reports are provided to the Minister for Planning for decision. There is no requirement under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 for the reports to be released publicly.

Social Housing Renewal SAC | Members • The Social Housing Renewal Standing Advisory Committee Members were appointed on 19 March 2017 for their independence and skills: – – – – • 4 Kathy Mitchell, Chair (Social and Strategic Planning) Sarah Carlisle, Deputy Chair (Law) Rodger Eade (Economics) Peter Mc. Ewan (Planning, Heritage) Peter Edwards (Traffic) Ann Keddie (Architecture and Urban Design) Debra Butcher (Statutory Planning) Mandy Elliott (Environmental Planning) Three of these Members were previously appointed to the Social Housing Advisory Committee (2010), as part of the Nation Building initiative.

Social Housing Renewal SAC | Purpose The purpose of the Standing Advisory Committee is to: • advise on the suitability of new planning proposals prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to facilitate renewal and redevelopment of existing public housing estates to increase the supply of social housing ; and • provide a timely, transparent and consultative process to facilitate the renewal of Victoria’s social housing stock. [Clause 4 a&b: TOR] 5

Matters for consideration Standing Advisory Committee to write brief report to the Minister for Planning responding to: a) All relevant submissions b) The appropriateness of the proposal: • in light of key strategies including Homes for Victorians and Plan Melbourne 2017. • against the objectives of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and any other relevant provisions of the planning schemes. c) Whether the Minister for Planning should act as Responsible Authority for the site. d) Whether the proposed changes to the planning scheme and/or planning permits should be approved subject to any recommended changes. [Clause 39: TOR] 6

Matters out of scope Clause 40 notes it is not the role of the Standing Advisory Committee to review or consider: a. The increasing demand for one and two bedroom housing dwellings; b. The suitability of joint venture partnerships as a delivery model c. Leveraging under-utilised public land to deliver an increase in social housing d. The dwelling yields needed to achieve an increase of at least 10 per cent in social housing e. The appropriateness of community housing provided to administer the provision of social housing. [Clause 40: TOR] 7

Social Housing Renewal SAC | Process The Terms of Reference provides that the Standing Advisory Committee undertake its work in the following stages: Briefings 8 Exhibition Public Hearings Report

Social Housing Renewal SAC | Process 9 Briefings [cl: 21&22] Exhibition Public Hearings • SAC can request briefing from DHHS prior to the commencement of a proposal. [cl: 23 -30 ] • The proposal is available [cl: 31 -36 ] • SAC holds a to view publicly. • Written submissions made over a 20 business day notice period. • DELWP provides direct notice to Council, local government, servicing agencies and neighboring properties. Directions Hearing within 20 business days of the close of exhibition. • SAC holds a Public Hearing. Submitters are invited to present at the Public Hearing. Report [cl: 39 -41] • SAC Report prepared in response to ‘Matters to be considered’ at Cl 39 of the TOR. • SAC Report submitted to the Minister for Planning for consideration 20 business days from the completion of its Hearing.

Briefings | SAC Process • The Standing Advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference provide the opportunity for the Committee to request briefings from DHHS (Cl 21). • The Standing Advisory Committee requested a briefing from DHHS following their appointment on 11 April 2017 • DHHS staff and their legal advisors, and officers of DELWP briefed the Committee on the background to the redevelopment projects. • DHHS provided an overview of the nine referred sites, explained how the projects are to be funded, how design principles were developed which will guide each redevelopment project, and the process by which DHHS developed suggested built form envelopes to guide the design of each project. 10

Exhibition | SAC Process • The Standing Advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference specified that DELWP was to carry out notification of the draft amendments for a period of 20 business days (Cl. 23 to 30). Notification was to include: – direct notice to the relevant Council, Government agencies, servicing authorities and nearby properties – a notice in the local newspaper. • DHHS was required to provide notice to residents of the Estates that are affected by the proposals. • Submissions were collected by Planning Panels Victoria for each referred site electronically and in hardcopy. 11

Public Hearings | SAC Process • The Standing Advisory Committee was required to provide the following parties an opportunity to make a submission and be heard at a hearing: o DHHS o the relevant Council o DELWP o relevant submitters • A total of 501 submissions were received across the six referred sites. • While some submitters acknowledged their submission might be outside the scope of the TOR, the Committee did not refuse to hear any submitter at any of the hearings. • Primarily the hearings were held at Planning Panels Victoria. Where possible, the Committee held hearing days at or nearby the relevant estate (Flemington, North Melbourne and Brighton) to hear individual submitters and community groups. 12

Referred proposals • Each proposal referred to the Standing Advisory Committee was in the form of a draft planning scheme amendment. • All sites were proposed to be rezoned from General or Neighbourhood Residential Zones to a new schedule to the Mixed Use Zone, supported by new schedules to the Development Plan Overlay and a Parking Overlay, among other policy changes in some planning schemes. • The Standing Advisory Committee was not asked to consider specific redevelopment proposals. It’s task was to consider the planning framework to facilitate the future final redevelopment proposals. 13

Status of referred sites Estate Parties notified by DELWP Submissions received Status Holland Court, Flemington (Moonee Valley) 7, 768 owners/occupiers 28 community groups 193 Report submitted 10 November 2017 Gronn Place, Brunswick West (Moreland) 3, 869 owners/occupiers 4 community groups 30 Report submitted 10 November 2017 Bellbardia and Tarakan Estates, Heidelberg West (Banyule) 2, 793 owners/occupiers 13 community groups 24 Report submitted 10 November 2017 Walker Street, Northcote (Darebin) 840 owners / occupiers 9 community groups 46 Report submitted 10 November 2017 Common Issues Report - - Report submitted 10 November 2017 New Street, Brighton (Bayside) 852 owners/occupiers 4 community groups 127 Report submitted 18 December 2017 Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne (Melbourne) 5, 706 owners/occupiers 3 community groups 81 Report submitted 13 December 2017 Ascot Vale Estate, Ascot Vale (Moonee Valley) - - Deferred – Pending further direction from the Minister for Planning 8. Noone Street, Clifton Hill (Yarra) - - Deferred – Pending further direction from the Minister for Planning 9. Bills Street, Hawthorn (Boroondara) - - Deferred – Pending further direction from the Minister for Planning 14

Summary • Advisory Committees are appointed by the Minister for Planning to provide an independent expert assessment of a particular planning issue • Public hearings provide submitters with an opportunity to be heard and for issues to be ventilated in an open and transparent process • The Advisory Committee process is iterative • The Committee’s recommendations are advisory; with the final decision on the proposed planning scheme changes made the Minister for Planning. 15