Smart planning championed on Melbourne Study Tour

Runfrom 27-29 May, the Property Council’s Melbourne Study Tour investigated the regional planning framework in Victoria, with the aim of informing the Queensland Government’s review of the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

The Property Council was fortunate to be accompanied by Queensland’s Deputy Premier, Hon Jackie Trad MP, and 25 local government, state government and industry stakeholders with an interest in Queensland’s regional planning process.

With the South East Queensland Regional Plan (SEQRP) currently under review, the Property Council selected Melbourne as a study tour destination based on the region’s ability to utilise planning and land release levers to reduce average land price, close the affordability gap on new homes, and ensure an ongoing supply of diverse housing product.

Over the two days of the study tour, attendees heard from a number of key figures involved in the development and implementation of Plan Melbourne, as well as representatives of the Metropolitan Planning Authority and the Grattan Institute.

The study tour also included site tours of Eastland Shopping Centre in Ringwood, one of Melbourne’s first major regional shopping centres, and Selandra Rise in the City of Casey – a ‘demonstration project’ based on the core objectives of improving housing diversity, promoting local employment, and creating a healthy and engaged community.

While vastly different developments, these site tours represented the complexity of regional planning in a high-growth urban area.

Throughout the tour a number of original initiatives, investigation opportunities and potential reform areas were identified for Queensland, and we look forward to future discussions regarding these learnings with the Deputy Premier and interested stakeholders.

The Property Council would like to sincerely thank our study tour supporters- Urbis, Stockland and QIC- for their support of this event, as well as our Boardroom Lunch hosts, Minter Ellison. Without the support of these organisations, this event would not be possible. In addition we would like to thank our event attendees whose enthusiasm and dedicated interest in better regional planning for Queensland was greatly appreciated.

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