State Government Sets Housing Target of 3,900 New Homes for Mansfield
Published on 29 September 2025
The Victorian Government has handed down state-wide housing targets for all councils, mandating that Mansfield Shire must plan for an additional 3,900 new homes by 2051.
The announcement comes less than a month before more secretive planning reforms are expected to be introduced to parliament, reinforcing Council’s concerns about a top-down planning system that is silencing local voices.
Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the housing target was another example of the state government making major decisions about Mansfield Shire’s future without any genuine consultation with the local community or with local government.
“Council is not opposed to growth, but it has to be the right kind of growth, planned in partnership with the community. This target has been dropped on us without any discussion about whether it’s realistic or what it will take to get there,” said Cr Rabie.
“At every step of the way, they have been making it impossible for local governments to consider community concerns and have local planning power where it matters most.
“Where are we going to put an additional 3,900 houses? We have to plan for it, in the long term. And, of course, we all live here because we love it the way it is now. Council is committed to keeping it country and making sure we maintain our country character. That gets harder and harder when we have the controls we need to make that happen taken away from us.
“A target of 3,900 homes isn’t planning for Mansfield Shire. We already do a great job of planning for Mansfield Shire – that's why we have the best little Shire in Australia. These kinds of targets might work for Melbourne but not for Mansfield.
With a bill going to Parliament in October that has changes that are yet to be disclosed, concerned community member Sarah Stegley said the lack of transparency was causing anxiety for residents.
“These secretive planning changes are causing genuine anxiety within our community. There's a strong feeling that these top-down reforms are not in our favour and will ultimately handicap our ability to protect what makes Mansfield a special country town," said Ms Stegley.
“The state government has shown that its reforms are centred on Melbourne's needs, not the reality of rural Victoria. Pushing through blanket reforms shows a misunderstanding of what it takes to protect the unique character of a country town.”
Council is concerned that the new housing target is not backed by any state government commitment to fund the critical infrastructure needed to support this growth, including our roads, healthcare and community facilities.
“The state government is mandating these targets but they are not providing the funding for the services and infrastructure that must come with more homes,” Cr Rabie said.
“Look at the condition of the state’s roads already. You can’t just add thousands of new houses to a rural shire and expect our existing roads and services to cope. It’s unsustainable and it shows a complete lack of understanding of the challenges we face in rural Victoria. We are being set up to fail.”
Council continues to urge the community to stand against these secretive and top-down planning practices by contacting their elected representatives.
“This is not a done deal. If you are also concerned that the state government is ignoring the needs of our community, the most powerful thing you can do is let them know directly,” said Cr Rabie.
“Write to your local member and tell them you want local planning powers to stay in the hands of local people.”