The Victorian Government has announced as of 1 January 2024 they will be amending Victoria’s Planning Provisions and all planning schemes which will set out new restrictions for connecting to a gas network. 

It will apply: 

Where a planning permit is required for the following developments connecting to a gas network will be prohibited. 

This includes: 

  • New homes 
  • Apartment buildings 
  • Total knock down and rebuilds 
  • Mixed apartment buildings 
  • Social housing
  • New subdivisions 

It won’t apply to: 

  • New dwellings that do not require a planning permit, 
  • Renovations, alterations or additions to existing dwellings or apartment buildings, 
  • Existing homes that have an existing gas connection, 
  • The use of LPG (bottled gas) for outdoor barbeques, 
  • Commercial lots within new estates, 
  • Applications lodged before 1 January 2024. 

The government has also announced they will be investing $10 million into a new Residential Electrification Grants program. Grants which will be available to volume home builders, developers, and others to provide bulk rebates for solar panels, solar hot water and heat pumps to new home buyers up front. 

Government will also be investing an additional $1 million into targeted training to support the building and construction industry’s transition to all electric and 7-star homes. 

Additional investment will also be offered to upskill the plumbing and electrical sector.  

While MBV recognises carbon emission reductions as important, we will be consulting the Victorian Government further to better understand how manufacturers and, the building and construction sector will be supported. 

MBV will continue to keep members up to date as we learn more. 

Further information regarding electrification for homes can be found here.