A system that says yes by default

For the first time, Victorian planning law will explicitly require decision-makers to "increase housing supply, diversity and affordability" as a core objective.

This is the absolute key foundation of a planning system that says yes, rather than no, by default.

Councils can no longer wave away housing proposals with vague appeals to "neighbourhood character" while ignoring the housing crisis. Housing supply is now front and centre, and decision-makers must actively consider it.

Key Wins for Housing

Automatic Approvals: Low-impact applications that councils fail to determine within prescribed timeframes can receive automatic approval, tackling chronic council delays.

Reducing NIMBYism: New provisions allow councils to reject frivolous, vexatious, or commercially-motivated objections, reducing opportunities for bad-faith obstruction of housing projects.

Covenant Reform: The bill makes it easier to override outdated restrictive covenants that prevent housing density in established suburbs, a major barrier to medium-density housing.

Accountability Measures: Mandatory performance reporting will publicly expose councils that delay housing approvals, creating pressure for faster decision-making.

Fighting for better

YIMBY Melbourne supports this bill's pro-housing elements while remaining vigilant about implementation. We will be actively engaging as details are released to ensure:

• Type 1 or 2 classification applies broadly to all medium-density housing, including six-storey apartments, and has an automatic approval trigger.
• State and regional planning strategies include explicit housing targets and feasible capacity requirements—rather than just vague aspirations
• Decision timeframes are strict—returning to 1999, when 60 days was considered a blowout, rather than the norm
• Both Council and Ministerial decisions are transparent and publicly tracked to maintain system-wide accountability

Planning systems have long histories of undermining well-intentioned reforms through poor implementation. The Victorian Government has one shot to get this right—they must ensure regulations and planning strategies enable housing delivery at scale, without creating new barriers to building the homes Victorians need, in the places they want to live.

Quotes attributable to Jonathan O’Brien, Lead Organiser

"For decades, councils could reject housing by saying 'it doesn't fit the character.' Now they must actively consider increasing housing supply. This flips the script. It won't solve everything overnight, but it's a fundamental change in how Victoria thinks about housing."

"Melbourne's housing crisis is partly a crisis of delay. Projects that should take months take years. Automatic approvals for low-impact development will light a fire under slow councils. If you can't make a decision, the decision gets made for you."

"Victoria doesn't need more process—we need more housing. We need the regulations to be bold: make a majority of housing Type 1 and 2, set tight timeframes, and give certainty to developers and councils alike."