10 quotes from Planning Minister Matthew Guy on changes in Victoria

Victoria’s construction boom comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen the increase in highrises and cranes on the skyline over the past few years.

This week Planning Minister Matthew Guy said that it shows no signs of abating.

Notably, construction work did fall slightly over the June quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, although remains up 3.2% over the past year.

Here are 10 quotes from Guy, reverse chronologically, in regards to changes in Melbourne.

1. “Victoria’s land supply program has been the most successful of any state, releasing 95,000 housing lots in metropolitan Melbourne alone. The strong competition between developers has dropped the median lot price from $225,000 in 2010 to around $191,000 now.” (August 2014)
   
   
2. “The last thing we need in Victoria is a housing shortage like the one Sydney is experiencing… Whether planning for land supply in suburban growth areas, for urban renewal precincts or for central city high rise apartments, we need to keep building enough homes to keep the market affordable.” (June 2014)
   
   
3. “This [Plan Melbourne 2050] is a comprehensive plan for Melbourne that caters for a projected population of 7.7 million people by 2051 and provides a solid foundation to meet these challenges.” (May 2014)
   
   
4. "The Victorian Coalition government will not allow public accessed beaches to be built  on, where the land is technically held in private ownership … With this change, any permit application to use or develop land within this zone will require consent. This is wide-ranging and includes fences, signs, outdoor furniture, shade sails, flag-poles, sheds, pergolas, verandahs and decks. Until today’s reforms, building these structures on private land in this zone did not require a planning permit.” (April 2014)
   
   
5. “It’s clear that there is plenty of land for future development and plans to maintain supply. It is critical that we continue to identify land to drive industry, jobs and housing growth in regional centres. Melbourne is certainly in an enviable position because we have large tracts of land marked for urban renewal and new suburbs. We also have the largest amount of industrial land of all capital cities in the country.” (January 2014)
   
   
6. “Melbourne is proud to be developing some of the most innovative and advanced skyscraper designs in the world. While other skinny buildings are called ‘pencil towers’, this building displays a slender, twisting flower stem design. 54 Clarke Street has strong architectural features to ensure it embodies a slender, sophisticated style all the way from a 'webbed' foundation at ground level.” (December 2013)
   
   
7. “Southbank’s appeal for new residents is significant, as this ‘urban village’ is within our vibrant arts precinct and has immediate access to the Melbourne CBD, employment, public transport, the Yarra River, parks and gardens and other services … It also helps meet anticipated high population growth in the area, while also boosting livability for residents.” (October 2013)
   
   
8. “The Fishermans Bend project will set the standard for urban renewal  across Melbourne and Australia over the next three decades, bringing  thousands of new residents to areas close to jobs, transport and  Australia’s greatest cultural heart.” (September 2013)
   
   
9. "Melbourne’s skyline will take a dramatic turn upward following the Victorian Coalition Government's approval of the Australia 108 tower.” (April 2013)
   
   
10. “We have an ageing population, those heading towards retirement have reduced wealth, and housing stress is a chronic problem for about 10% of households… Almost all of the city’s most affordable housing is in the outer suburbs with the inner suburbs out of reach to many renters and all but the wealthiest first-home buyers.” (October 2012)