Resources
The following resources relate to information referred to in Outcome 5, Heritage Conservation.
www.environment.gov.au/heritage
Working Together: Managing Commonwealth Heritage Places
www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/protecting/working-together-commonwealth.html
Maheno Wreck Fraser Island. (Shannon Muir)
Outcome 6: Sustainable population and communities
‘Economic prosperity, liveable cities, suburbs and regions and a healthy natural environment are the key to a sustainable Australia.’
At a glance
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Australia’s sustainable population strategy Sustainable Australia—Sustainable Communities: A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia was launched by the minister.
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3 877 affordable rental properties made available under the National Rental Affordability Scheme with support for a further 19 072 dwellings, in line with the government’s target to deliver 35 000 dwellings by 30 June 2014.
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The first 749 reduced price lots/dwellings have been sold as a result of Housing Affordability Fund projects.
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The Building Better Regional Cities draft program guidelines were completed in 2010–11, and detailed consultation was undertaken with key stakeholders.
Outcome 6: Sustainable Population and Communities
OUTCOME 6
Advance the sustainability of Australia’s population, communities and environment through coordination and development of sustainable population and communities policies, and supporting affordable housing
Sustainable Population Division
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Main responsibilities for this outcome
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As a result of the Administrative Arrangement Orders announced on 14 September 2010 and 14 October 2010, Outcome 6 has been included in the department’s Outcomes and Performance Information. It incorporates sustainable population policy from the Department of the Treasury, and housing supply and affordability policy from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
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Housing, Population and Communities Division
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Main responsibilities for this outcome
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The department’s Sustainable Population Strategy Taskforce was responsible for advancing the sustainability of Australia’s population and communities by developing a sustainable population strategy. The Housing, Population and Communities Division administers programs concerned with the supply of affordable housing for low and moderate income households.
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Objectives
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Develop a sustainable population strategy, sustainability indicators and impact statements.
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Offer financial incentives through the National Rental Affordability Scheme to provide new rental dwellings at least 20 per cent below market rates.
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Provide grants to local councils and state agencies to reduce housing-related infrastructure and planning costs through the Housing Affordability Fund.
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Support investment in regional housing-related infrastructure projects through the Building Better Regional Cities initiative.
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Support the National Housing Supply Council in monitoring, analysing and reporting on housing supply and affordability.
Strategies
Sustainable population
In May 2011 the department delivered Australia’s sustainable population strategy—Sustainable Australia—Sustainable Communities: A Sustainable Population Strategy. The strategy is supported by new measures that lay the foundations for a sustainable Australia. These measures include:
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new investments to encourage the creation of employment precincts in outer metropolitan suburbs
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support for regional areas to plan for future growth and housing supply
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new indicators to measure the nation’s sustainability needs.
The strategy was developed by the department’s Sustainable Population Strategy Taskforce following a public consultation process.
The main objective of the strategy is to ensure that future changes in Australia’s population are compatible with the sustainability of our economy, communities and environment. These three elements—economic prosperity, liveable communities and environmental sustainability—are the foundations of the nation’s wellbeing. They underpin the government’s broad policy agenda for the future of our nation.
The minister appointed three independent Sustainable Population Advisory Panels to examine the population debate from different perspectives, including demographic change and liveability (chaired by Professor Graeme Hugo), productivity and prosperity (chaired by Ms Heather Ridout) and sustainable development (chaired by the Hon. Bob Carr). At the end of the process these panels reported to the minister on the issues, views, tradeoffs, opportunities and challenges associated with population change.
The issues paper (which drew on the advisory panel reports) provided the framework for public submissions and six roundtable meetings with key stakeholders. This consultative process stimulated an open dialogue on a national sustainable population strategy, from which the department gained a comprehensive picture of the many opportunities and challenges associated with our changing population. Australian Government agencies including the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, were also consulted in the development process through an interdepartmental committee.
Six underlying principles provide a framework for the strategy and represent the government’s commitment to the essential aspects of the Australian way of life and benefits of our democracy. These principles will guide how the government addresses population issues. They are:
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Freedom of choice: individual Australians and their communities want to choose where to live, their household structure and family composition, how they engage with the community, the economy (that is, their working life) and our institutions, and how they use government services and infrastructure.
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Valuing diversity: recognising the benefits of diversity—in culture, age, beliefs and lifestyle—within the broader objective of community harmony and national unity. Commitment to a just, inclusive and socially cohesive society where everyone can enjoy the opportunities that living in Australia offers.
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Enhancing our prosperity: the capacity to provide the opportunities, benefits and investments expected by Australians depends on enhancing our prosperity and living standards in real terms. This can only be achieved through investment in the long-term drivers of economic growth and productivity.
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Good custodianship: the protection of the natural and built environment, sustainable use of Australia’s natural resources, and the conservation of biodiversity and our heritage is essential to Australia and the global community.
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A sense of place: quality of life and sense of community is linked to our physical location and shared experiences. The diversity of Australia’s physical environments, both natural and built, give rise to a wide range of communities as expressions of the way Australians choose to live.
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Joint responsibility: Australian, state, territory and local governments all have particular responsibilities and must work together, including through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), to support a sustainable Australia. The private and non-government sectors are also responsible for many factors that support our population.
Housing supply and affordability
In 2010–11 the department worked with state, territory, and local governments, community organisations and the private sector to develop, implement and administer housing policies and major funding programs. These are aimed at understanding and responding to the increasing housing supply gap and other factors affecting housing affordability for many Australians, particularly low- and moderate-income households.
National Rental Affordability Scheme
The National Rental Affordability Scheme offers financial incentives to the business sector and community organisations to build and rent dwellings to low and moderate income households, at a rate at least 20 per cent below market rates. The scheme aims to:
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increase the supply of new affordable rental housing
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reduce rental costs for low and moderate income households
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encourage large scale investment and innovative affordable housing.
The Australian Government is committed to stimulating the construction of up to 50 000 high-quality homes and apartments, of which 35 000 are to be delivered by 30 June 2014, and the remaining 15 000 by 2015–16, providing affordable private rental properties for Australians and their families.
Affordable housing precinct in Harrison, ACT.
Housing Affordability Fund
The Housing Affordability Fund is a five-year, $450 million investment by the Australian Government to reduce the cost of new homes for homebuyers.
The funding is directed towards two barriers to increasing the supply of affordable housing:
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the ‘holding’ costs incurred by developers as a result of long planning and approval times
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infrastructure costs, such as water, sewerage, roads, open space and community facilities.
The Housing Affordability Fund provides grants to state, territory and local governments to work in conjunction with the private sector to reduce housing-related infrastructure and planning costs, and to pass savings onto new home buyers. Two funding rounds have been conducted and program funding is now fully committed.
Building Better Regional Cities Program
The Building Better Regional Cities Program is a $100 million commitment by the Australian Government to invest in local housing infrastructure projects that will help build thousands of more affordable homes in high-growth regional cities over the next three years. Forty-seven regional cities have been invited to participate in the program.
Councils will be able to use this funding to invest in local infrastructure projects that support new housing developments, including connecting roads, extensions to drains and sewers, and community infrastructure such as parks and community centres.
Funding will only be provided to cities that produce robust evidence of future jobs growth, and can show how many extra affordable homes will be created as a result of the proposed projects.
National Housing Supply Council
The government established the National Housing Supply Council in 2008 to monitor housing demand, supply and affordability in Australia, and to highlight current and potential gaps between housing supply and demand for households. The council provides independent advice and analysis on housing supply and affordability, and produces an annual State of Supply Report.
Case study 1: Procedure reforms increase housing affordability in south-east Queensland
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Among the biggest challenges presented by a rapidly growing population is supply of affordable housing. This has been highlighted in south-east Queensland where the population has grown at a faster rate than all but one of Australia’s mainland capital city metropolitan areas. In 2008 more than two-thirds of Queensland’s population resided in south-east Queensland.
While many things influence housing affordability, the efficiency of the development approval process is a key factor. The Australian Government and the Council of Mayors South-east Queensland have been working together to tackle this issue through the Target 5 Days project, which aims to deliver approvals for low-risk residential developments within five days.
Target 5 Days is a $3.5 million Housing Affordability Fund reform project that aims to end planning delays for developers. By cutting the time it takes to get planning approvals for new homes, Target 5 Days will improve both housing affordability and supply. Specifically, the project aims to:
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reduce assessment timeframes for 95 per cent of residential development applications through application process reform
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achieve a 75 per cent reduction in approval timeframes for residential developments (including a five day turnaround for low-risk applications)
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implement consistent development assessment processes across participating councils in south-east Queensland (Brisbane), the Gold Coast, Logan, Lockyer Valley, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
Since it started in 2009 the project has achieved significant results. For example some of the early adopting councils have already reduced the assessment timeframes for more than 90 per cent of their residential applications, including a five day turnaround for low-risk, compliant applications. Toowoomba City Council are exceeding expectations, with an average turnaround of just over two days for development assessment applications.
Local governments and the residential development sector will also benefit from faster assessments through improved efficiencies, reduced holding costs, lower financing requirements and greater transparency in planning decision-making.
These reforms have greatly reduced approval times and are estimated to help approximately 16 000 home buyers each year. All newly constructed homes in Australia’s highest growth areas will achieve a projected saving of around $4 000, providing an ongoing total benefit of up to $64 million annually.
Housing construction site. (Arthur Mostead)
Highlights
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On 16 December 2010 the minister released the issues paper, A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia. The launch started a public consultation process, with the minister calling for all Australians to contribute their views on how to manage our changing population.
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The department received 380 submissions from individuals; state governments and their agencies; environmental, social and population non-government organisations; industry associations and businesses; academics; local governments, and regional and community groups. These submissions raised a range of views about our changing population and the environmental, social and economic needs that can determine future wellbeing.
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The minister also held six roundtables, bringing together key organisations and groups to discuss major viewpoints in the sustainable population debate.
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A public consultation process was undertaken to enable the government to understand the diverse views on Australia’s population changes and their impacts.
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This consultation informed Australia’s sustainable population strategy Sustainable Australia—Sustainable Communities: A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia, which the minister released on 13 May 2011.
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At 30 June 2011 the National Rental Affordability Scheme had supported the delivery of 3 877 affordable rental dwellings, and around 19 000 scheduled for delivery by 30 June 2014.
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The first 749 reduced price lots/dwellings have been sold as a result of Housing Affordability Fund projects.
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The Building Better Regional Cities draft program guidelines were completed, and detailed consultation undertaken with key stakeholders.
Outcome 6, program 6.1
Deliverables
Deliverables
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Results
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Population
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Establish and support three advisory panels to help inform the development of a sustainable population strategy.
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The minister announced the membership of the three independent sustainable population advisory panels in July 2010. The panels were:
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Demographic Change and Liveability Panel, chaired by Professor Graeme Hugo
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Productivity and Prosperity Panel, chaired by Ms Heather Ridout
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Sustainable Development Panel, chaired by the Hon. Bob Carr.
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Conduct a public consultation process, including delivery of a public discussion paper outlining key issues identified by the advisory panels.
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The minister announced the public consultation process on 16 December 2010 through the release of the Sustainable Population Strategy issues paper, A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia. At the launch of the issues paper, the minister called for all Australians to have their say and contribute their views on how to manage our changing population.
The issues paper and its three appendices—reports from each of the independent sustainable population advisory panels—identified and explored issues around Australia’s changing population. The paper aimed to encourage community discussion about the challenges and opportunities created by changes in our population.
The government undertook a consultation process and considered the views of 380 public submissions in the development of the strategy. A series of roundtable meetings with key stakeholders were also held to discuss viewpoints in the sustainable population debate.
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Design and include sustainability impact statements as part of Australian Government decision-making processes.
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Sustainability impact statements will be implemented within the government cabinet process to ensure that policies aim to maximise the wellbeing of current and future generations.
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Deliverables
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Results
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Develop a sustainable population strategy that will consider issues of environmental, social and economic sustainability.
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On 13 May 2011 the minister launched Australia’s sustainable population strategy Sustainable Australia—Sustainable Communities: A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia.
The strategy outlines the government’s framework for a sustainable Australia. It aims to maintain and improve the wellbeing of current and future generations by encouraging more effective anticipation, planning and responses to the impacts of population changes on our economy, communities and environment.
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Develop sustainability indicators to inform decision-making and policy development.
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As part of the 2011–12 Budget, $10.1 million over four years was allocated to the Measuring Sustainability Initiative to improve the availability of information and data relating to sustainability. Sustainability indicators covering economic, social and environmental issues will be introduced to better inform decisions by the government.
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Housing
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Effectively manage the National Rental Affordability Scheme so that incentives are allocated in accordance with statutory criteria, and dwellings under the scheme are made available at reduced rents for eligible low-and moderate-income households.
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Decisions on all applications received under round three were finalised. Initial decisions were made on round four applications with 3 726 incentives offered to 30 June 2011.
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Effectively manage the Housing Affordability Fund to support quality projects that help lower the cost of building new housing, improve supply and make housing more affordable.
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75 projects have been allocated funding under the program, including 23 planning reform-based projects and 52 infrastructure projects.
The first 749 reduced price lots/dwellings had been made available to home buyers as at 30 June 2011.
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Design and begin implementation of the Building Better Regional Cities program, with the first round of funding to start in 2011.
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Program design and consultation on draft guidelines completed to enable program to start in the second half of 2011.
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Support the National Housing Supply Council in monitoring, analysing and reporting on housing supply and affordability, to inform decision making by governments, the private sector and individuals.
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Membership of National Housing Supply Council was announced in May 2011. The council met in June 2011 and production of the 2011 State of Supply Report is progressing.
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Outcome 6, program 6.1
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
KPIs
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Results
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Population
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Delivery of a sustainable population strategy that meets the government’s timelines and objectives.
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Sustainable Australia—Sustainable Communities: A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia was released on 13 May 2011. The strategy will ensure that future changes in Australia’s population are compatible with the sustainability of Australia’s economy, environment and communities, with the goal of improving the wellbeing of current and future generations.
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Housing
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Total number of National Rental Affordability Scheme incentives allocated and percentage increase from previous year.
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At 30 June 2011, 22 949 NRAS incentives had been allocated, reserved or were under offer. This is 79 per cent more than in 2009–10.
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Number and proportion of National Rental Affordability Scheme dwellings rented to eligible tenants compared with annual program targets.
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In 2010–11 the scheme increased the number of affordable rental dwellings available to low-and moderate-income households by 2 061 dwellings—an increase of 113 per cent.
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Number of lots/dwellings that have been reduced in price and savings have been passed onto home buyers as a result of Housing Affordability Fund projects.
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At 30 June 2011, 749 lots/dwellings had been reduced in price as a result of Housing Affordability Fund projects.
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Number of lots/dwellings that have been brought forward as a result of the Housing Affordability Fund.
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Project proponents estimate that 35 000 dwellings will be brought forward as a result of the Housing Affordability Fund. As projects are not complete, final data is not available.
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The Building Better Regional Cities Program is ready to start by 1 July 2011.
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Program design and consultation on draft guidelines has been completed, enabling the program to start in the second half of 2011.
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