Australia’s first widespread levy on short-stay accommodation and the redevelopment of 44 monolithic public housing towers have been announced by the Victorian government as part of an overhaul of policy.
The 7.5% levy on platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz, announced by the premier, Daniel Andrews on Wednesday, is expected to raise about $70m annually to fund social and affordable housing.
Andrews described the levy, which he expected to come into effect in 2025, as “modest” and refused to compare it to other fees charged in other countries. It is only lower than a 14% lodging tax charged to short-stays in Los Angeles.
The statement also includes an ambitious plan to redevelop the Melbourne’s public housing towers, which were designed and built post-second world war and have provided the backbone to Victoria’s public housing system for the past 60 years.
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Andrews said the ageing towers no longer meet the standards Victorians have come to expect.
“Our 44 high rise towers are old, they are out of date, they are crumbling. They need to go,” he told reporters.
“In what is undoubtedly the biggest urban renewal project in our state’s history – and potentially our nation’s history – all 44 of those towers will go, they will be replaced by 2051.”
Andrews said the Carlton, Flemington and North Melbourne towers would be the first to be redeveloped, with department staff and translators door-knocking residents to inform them of the plans on Wednesday.
He said the development would see the number of social housing across the sites increased by 10% – but sand some of the land to also be used for private apartments.
“These sites are so well located and they can be home to so many more people,” Andrews said.
The government will also sell and develop “surplus land” across 45 sites across the state, which is expected to deliver at least 9,000 new homes, while about 80 underused office buildings will be assessed to see if they can be converted into residential properties.
As previously reported by Guardian Australia, the housing statement also strengthens protections for renters by making rent bidding an offence and banning landlords from raising rents for 12 months after asking the previous tenant to vacate.
It also moves to bypass councils for major projects, which will speed up the approvals process from up to two years to four months.
Under the plan, planning applications for developments valued at over $50m in Melbourne and $15m in regional Victoria will be assessed by the government’s development facilitation program rather than by local governments, provided they include at least 10% affordable housing.
‘Derelict’ Carlton towers to be demolished and rebuilt in federal housing fund’s first projectRead more
Once a project is approved by the development facilitation program, third parties will be unable to appeal against…
2023-09-19 23:43:53
Original from www.theguardian.com
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