THE PARKIE AUT25 - Flipbook - Page 12
Advocacy continues to improve political
understanding of the land lease sector
The association has continued its strong advocacy efforts on behalf of the land lease
community and mixed-use park members.
In February, association President Sam Cohen and GM
- Residential Rod Hearn met with the new Minister for
Consumer Affairs and Local Government, Nick Staikos
and Kat Theophonous, the Parliamentary Secretary for
Renters.
Minister Staikos now has responsibility for the
government’s review of residential parks, so it was
important he understood our support of the review and
the need to retain CRPVic as a primary stakeholder.
This meeting also sought to inform the Minister about
the role and capacity of the residential land lease sector
to increase the volume of affordable housing supply in
Victoria.
Minister Staikos was interested in better understanding
the differences between residential land lease
communities and retirement villages, the different
business models and role of exit fees/DMFs, and how
better sector support could add to affordable housing
supply.
The minister expressed strong interest in visiting a
range of land lease community members, which we will
facilitate.
Recommendations for policy change
After considerable member engagement, the Caravan &
Residential Parks Victoria Policy Statement, Accelerating
Affordable Housing: The Residential Land Lease Solution,
is about to be published.
Providing a strong platform for government to address
the hurdles to land lease investment in Victoria, the
comprehensive sector analysis and 16 recommendations
for government policy change strongly reflects member
input.
It includes adjustments to planning and re-zoning,
environmental and heritage considerations, legal
challenges, land acquisition, utility and infrastructure
delays and community design and construction.
Our new sector infographic summarises the status and
value of the Victorian land lease sector - an educational
precursor to, and reminder of, our Policy Statement
during our advocacy meetings with ministers and
members of parliament over the coming months.
Seeking bipartisan support
In March, CEO Scott Parker joined Sam and Rod to meet
with the Shadow Minister for Planning and Housing,
Richard Riordan, who showed strong interest in the
capacity of the land lease sector to deliver quality homes
quickly.
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“The perspectives the Shadow Minister shared with us
on planning principles were also refreshing, not only for
the land lease sector but also for tourist parks,” Scott said.
CRPVic well represented at Residential
Park Review Workshop
In March, Sam, Rod and Legal Counsel represented the
association at the Life in Residential Parks — Workshop
with Industry, which was also attended by association
committee members Kerryn Deacon and Chris
Paranthoiene.
Senior representatives from Lifestyle Communities,
Ingenia, Stockland and Equinox, as well as representatives
from the City of Casey, Consumer Policy Research
Centre (CPRC) and the Commissioner for Residential
Tenancies participated.
Participants benefited from a presentation of the
findings from the CPRC’s operator and resident
surveys and discussed the impact of a number of draft
recommendations the Commissioner Heather Holst was
considering as part of her final report to the Victorian
Government.
“The contribution of our team, and of our members,
was impressive and vital to ensure the Commissioner
retained a balance of perspectives,” Scott said.
The association has now drafted a formal submission
to this stage of the review. We have also been collating
information via member contributions for our submission
to the Parliament of Victoria Inquiry into the Supply of
Homes in Regional Victoria.
The Inquiry covers build methodology, housing form
and type mix, and what’s affecting housing supply, so it’s
important to highlight how residential park members and
associate member home manufacturers can address the
government’s needs’.
“It is pleasing to see members benefiting from our
political and other decision maker engagement which is
establishing an improved understanding of the benefits
of supporting land lease community development and
operation,” Scott said.
We have published our two-page
infographic on the following pages. Feel
free to remove this information and use
it to more widely share the benefits and
potential of residential land lease and
mixed-use parks in Victoria.
