Urban Development Institute of Australia National commends the Government’s announcement today of a $120 billion nationwide infrastructure funding commitment over 10 years, as a critical initiative to bolster cities and regions, boosting jobs and paving the way for the enabling infrastructure needed for housing.
“This investment in roads and rail is absolutely vital to shaping the cities of the future and the necessary first step towards building communities and the enabling infrastructure necessary to combat the affordability crisis gripping parts of the country,” said Max Shifman UDIA National President.
“These announcements are welcome at a time when we need to keep a sharp focus on measures that will deliver the new housing Australian’s need. These infrastructure projects need the support of measures that streamline planning and approvals to ensure more development-ready land is available so more homes can be built.” said Max Shifman .
“Cities and towns can only flourish if people can access them and that means delivering housing with transport infrastructure where it is needed across the country in urban and regional areas,” he said.
“With an unchecked housing crisis caused by a thin housing supply pipeline, we need measures that release development ready land to the market or there simply won’t be enough housing to buy or build.” he added.
UDIA’s 2022 State of the Land report shows that new home sales may drop this year by up to 43% but housing prices will continue to rise simply because there isn’t enough development ready land to build houses.
“The measures outlined in UDIA’s Federal Election Campaign Platform – A Plan for Prosperity are low-cost but they are necessary to ensure that the positive impact of infrastructure spend across the country is maximised and does not turn into a lost opportunity.” said Shifman. “As outlined in our election platform It would be even better to see such announcements linked to planning reform at State level to create a double dividend of enabling infrastructure and increased supply”.
The UDIA National congratulates government for listening to its calls for increased and sustained infrastructure investment and looks forward to working with the political leadership to continue boosting jobs, the economy and delivering housing for all Australians.
—ends—
Media Enquiries:Deanna Lane | National Media & Communications Manager | 0416 295 898 | media@udia.com.au