The data shows it is falling well short.
2.5 years after announcing the DFP as a Victorian Government-led fast-track, just over 9,500 potential dwellings are approved, and with only circa 2,500 of them having commenced.
In other words, DFP-approved projects translate to less than ~2% of total commencements in that timeframe! A rounding error – hardly a resounding impact.
This was entirely predictable given that the thrust of the DFP is to facilitate (mostly) non-feasible apartment projects in inner and middle-ring suburbs. Ideology over effectiveness.
Commencement numbers would be even worse if the #HAFF hadn’t come around to help get some projects out of the ground (I suppose that was the purpose).
The DFP process was fundamentally flawed from the outset given its limited remit. It’s capable of delivering much more.
To be effective, DFP needed to: • Capture a wider range of projects, with fewer limitations • Allow redirection of existing applications, rather than resetting the process from scratch • Not have a lengthy “pre-approval” period to make the approval timeframe numbers look better • Be given the powers to coordinate and corral government authorities • Take approvals to actual shovel readiness (i.e. engineering/construction approval), not just planning
I‘m speaking about this with real–world experience: we have had an actually feasible project with DFP in the”pre-approval” phase for nearly 12 months, as we wait for referrals from authorities and the like. Then, assuming we “formally” get into the process, we will still have to navigate the standard Council and authority approval process to get the actual shovels in the ground.
Other projects we have proposed were either too far in another planning process already or too hard to pick up due to some other perceived political complication.
🤔Unfortunately, DFP has been used as a vehicle to deliver (relatively) easy approval wins for #headlines, but with low real–world effectiveness. Not too late to fix it.