Speed limits would be slashed to 30km/h on streets in Victoria frequented by children under a recommendation by the state’s peak infrastructure body.
Infrastructure Victoria on Tuesday released its draft 30-year infrastructure plan, which also outlines a plan to boost the state’s supply of social homes by 60,000 over 15 years.
The strategy – which is updated every five years – includes 50 priorities across Victoria for housing, energy, transport, health, social infrastructure and the environment.
Infrastructure Victoria recommended local speed limits be reduced to 30km/h in areas visited by children. It recommended then extending this to more local streets over time to improve pedestrian safety.
The report said the changes should apply to streets with current speed limits of 50km/h or less. It said a pedestrian hit by a car at 50km/h has an 85% chance of dying, and a 40% chance at 40km/h. At 30km/h, this falls to 10%, the report said.
Infrastructure Victoria said seven children die on the state’s roads each year, according to data from the Transport Accident Commission.
The draft strategy also includes a 15-year plan to provide 60,000 social homes at a cost of between $19bn and $30bn. Victoria has the lowest rate of social housing in the country, according to statistics by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The body said the cost of building the new homes could be reduced if supported by the federal government or if the state government built on land it already owns. It also said building on land owned by local councils and not-for-profit housing organisations could reduce the cost.
Infrastructure Victoria’s chief executive, Dr Jonathan Spear, said homelessness was on the rise and the state lacked enough social housing to meet the demand.
“Now is the time for government to commit to a 15-year program for Victoria’s social housing,” he said.
“Building 60,000 social homes is achievable when delivered over 15 years. It provides secure and affordable housing to Victorians in need. It can also help lower government spending on healthcare and support services.
Infrastructure Victoria pointed to the state government’s initial Big Housing Build which is ending after funding 9,300 new social homes.
Under the recommendation, the state government would build about 4,000 social housing units each year for Victorians each year. Under the plan, each new home is estimated to cost between $240,000 and $580,000 depending on size and location.
But Spear warned consistent investment in social housing over the next 20 years would reduce homelessness, but would not end it.
“As the population grows, the government will need to keep investing in social housing. This can create a long-term infrastructure pipeline to deliver more social homes over time,” he said.
Infrastructure Victoria recommends the social housing units be built close to jobs, transport and amenities in the state, with eligibility prioritising those who have recently experienced homelessness family violence or have other special needs.
Infrastructure Victoria has also recommended the government build at least 300 Aboriginal social homes each year for a decade, in line with the state’s self-determined housing policy.
The draft strategy is open for feedback until 28 April.
The Victorian government will respond to the report’s recommendations once the strategy is finalised and tabled in parliament later this year.
