The Premier has framed a fast-tracked plan for 50 higher-density housing areas in Melbourne's suburbs, as a case of builders versus blockers. Jacinta Allan has announced the first 25 new activity centres, with a mixture of high- and low-rise developments built around public transport hubs. But some residents say it will change character of their neighbourhoods and lead to people losing existing homes.
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00:00Shame! Previous shame!
00:04Furious Bayside residents make their feelings known.
00:07Shame! Previous shame!
00:09At a snap protest called by the opposition in Brighton.
00:13They're going to build 20-storey apartment towers in your streets.
00:20They want to bulldoze people's homes and put apartment buildings
00:23and people don't realise their homes are going.
00:26Are people prepared to put up with this?
00:28It's wrong. They can't just steamroll everybody all the time.
00:32We've actually had enough.
00:34Inside, the Premier was unfazed.
00:36I'm a builder, not a blocker.
00:38For ten years I've been proud to lead the massive build-up
00:42of our transport system so we can now get to this point.
00:46The plan would see a total of 50 new so-called activity centres
00:50with high-density housing built around train and tram lines
00:54with frequent services.
00:56The first 25 centres will be largely in the southeastern suburbs.
01:00The location of the remaining 25 will be announced later in the year.
01:05Being able to build more homes is also about building more different
01:10types of homes to give Victorians more choice.
01:13Housing advocates are claiming a win.
01:16Almost a quarter of the network is going to see more dense housing,
01:20more dense businesses and more dense building around it
01:23that will allow more Victorians, more Melbournians to share
01:26in this incredible city instead of being pushed further and further out.
01:30But the timing of today's announcement has drawn criticism
01:34with councils in caretaker mode ahead of local elections.
01:38The government hasn't consulted and it's made sure that it's dropped
01:41this latest desperate announcement when local municipal authorities
01:46can't be in any position and local council candidates can't be
01:49in any position to meaningfully engage on these issues.
01:52This announcement is one of many announcements and we'll continue
01:56to work very closely with community and with local government as well.
01:59For some, the plan can't come soon enough.
02:02Build them up. Build them up.
02:04Go to New York and have a look and see what it's like over there.
02:06It's fabulous.
02:07The government will introduce new planning controls and may need
02:11to rezone in some areas to allow for multi-storey buildings.
02:15Planning for all 50 new centres will be completed by 2026.
02:22For more UN videos visit www.un.org