CASBE has lodged a submission in response to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Housing Supply Regulation, supporting efforts to improve housing delivery while emphasising the importance of long-term resilience in housing reform.
The submission argues that increasing housing supply and building climate-resilient communities are complementary objectives. As Victoria delivers more housing, decisions made today will shape how well homes and neighbourhoods perform in the face of future heat, flood, bushfire and other climate risks.
A key focus of the submission is emerging research from AHURI’s climate resilience program, which is examining housing-system vulnerability, long-term cost risks and who ultimately bears the costs when resilience is overlooked. This work aligns closely with CASBE’s position, reinforcing that resilience should be understood as a housing, planning, finance, insurance and affordability issue, rather than solely a building design consideration.
The submission notes that while resilience measures may involve modest upfront investment, deferring them can lead to higher costs over time through increased energy bills, retrofit requirements, insurance pressures and disaster recovery expenditure. Viewed through this lens, resilience is not a barrier to affordability but a key part of achieving it.
Reflecting the priorities outlined in CASBE’s Position Paper, A Resilient Built Environment for Victoria, the submission advocates for a whole-of-life approach to housing reform that recognises the long-term benefits of resilient homes, neighbourhoods and infrastructure.
As the Productivity Commission develops its final recommendations, CASBE is encouraging reforms that support both increased housing supply and lasting community resilience.