Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Single housing code proposed

The Minister for Planning, Mr John Thwaites has proposed a single housing code for both single dwellings and medium density development.

Mr Thwaites proposed the new code when releasing a panel report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Local Variations to the Good Design Guide, which was established by the previous Coalition government.

The report was critical of various aspects of the Victorian Code for Residential Development - Subdivision and Single Dwellings (Vic Code 1), which was introduced by the previous Labor government in April 1992.

Mr Thwaites said the panel report found that :

• Vic Code 1 was not protecting the character of local streetscapes and neighbourhoods
• there were major problems with regards to overshadowing and overlooking in the houses examined by the committee
• VicCode 1 was inadequate because it did not require detached housing to be consistent with neighbourhood character
• Vic Code 1 does not require any analysis of the building site or neighbourhood
• these shortcomings had serious impact on streetscapes and neighbourhood amenity by not indicating existing trees and structures or setbacks from boundaries
• there are serious concerns about the level of supervision of housing projects, as a result of which can be inconsistencies between the development as shown on the plans and the buildings as constructed.

Mr Thwaites said the key findings of the report included:

• there be a single comprehensive guide for the siting and design of all housing regardless of whether a single or multi-unit development is proposed
• the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations be amended so they relate to the siting and design of buildings
• a site complex plan be required with each application for a building permit
• techniques relating to overshadowing and visual privacy be included in the Building Regulations
• natural light to main living room windows be protected
• new developments should align with a common setback in the street
• limiting the height of front fences to 1.2 metres or requiring no front fence where this is a characteristic of the street
• garages and carports in the front of houses be setback with the setback of building.

"The Good Design Guide and VicCode 1 have not produced good design outcomes and have failed to protect people's exisiting residential amenity," he said.

Mr Thwaites claimed the findings of the review were consistent with Labor's policy for a single residential housing code.

"Clearly it is time to replace the existing guides with a more local neighbourhood responsive approach which fosters good neighbour relations and builds better commutities."

A public consultation process will take place in relation to the panel report over the next two months before the release of the final report.

Submissions can be sent to the the Department of Infrastructure, Level 11, Nauru House, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne.

The Panel Report is available on the Department of Infrastructure's website at http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/planning/panels.html or from Information Victoria, 356 Collins Street Melbourne.

See Media Release, Minister for Planning, October 27, 1999