Victorian Government Landholding
Policy and Guidelines
The Secretary
Department of Treasury and Finance
1 Treasury Place
Melbourne Victoria 3002
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9651 5111
Facsimile: +61 3 9651 5298
www.dtf.vic.gov.au
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Contents
Victorian Government Landholding Policy ......................................................... 1
1.
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 1
2.
Policy ............................................................................................................................................. 1
3.
Application .................................................................................................................................... 3
4.
Supporting and related documents .............................................................................................. 3
5.
Responsibilities.............................................................................................................................. 3
Victorian Government Landholding Guidelines .................................................. 4
Victorian Government Landholding Policy
Purpose
The purpose of the Victorian Government Landholding Policy is to:
ensure that land is only purchased or retained by Victorian Government agencies where
State ownership of land:
(i)
contributes directly to current or future service delivery outcomes expected by
Government;
(ii)
is central to the core business of agencies as explained in agency corporate plans;
(iii)
is financially beneficial to the State when compared to alternative investment of
State funds; or
(iv)
in the case of Crown land, is appropriate on the basis that the protection of public
land values make the land unsuitable for divestment;
promote the highest and best use of land by providing the opportunity for the private
and community sectors and other government agencies to further unlock the value
inherent in the State’s land estate; and
require active management of land portfolios across Victorian Government agencies
which is essential to the good management of the State’s balance sheet.
Policy
Victorian Government agencies must only hold land where State ownership of that
land:
(i)
contributes directly to current or future service delivery outcomes expected of
agencies as explained in agency corporate plans and does this by the most cost
effective means possible;
(ii)
with the approval of the acquiring or landholding Minister:
A.
provides for new infrastructure, enables the optimal use of existing
infrastructure or contributes other economic benefits to the State that
justify its retention or purchase;
B.
after considering a Strategic Crown Land Assessment in accordance with
the Victorian Government Strategic Crown Land Assessment Policy, is
appropriate on the basis that the protection of public land values make the
land unsuitable for divestment;
1
C.
D.
(iii)
is necessary to provide for occupation by other government or community
organisations where;

the State receives market value rent; or

where the State receives less than market value rent, the social or
community benefits of occupation are considered to justify the costs
to the State;
is financially beneficial to the State when compared to alternative
investment of State funds;
is considered by the acquiring or landholding Minister to contribute to other
Government objectives as may be set from time to time.
For the avoidance of doubt, Victorian Government agencies must not purchase or retain
land where State ownership of that land:
(i)
is not justified with reference to paragraph 2(a)(i) of this policy; or
(ii)
has not been approved pursuant to either of paragraphs 2(a)(ii) or (iii) of this
policy.
Upon declaring land surplus to agency requirements, Victorian Government agencies
must:
(i)
provide notice of 60 days of the agency’s intention to dispose of land during
which period other State, Commonwealth or local government agencies may
express interest in acquiring the land;
(ii)
if another government agency expresses interest in acquiring the land, negotiate
in good faith to attempt to agree on the terms of sale within 30 days after the
close of the notice period; and
(iii)
if the terms of sale are agreed, transact the sale of the land at a price equal to the
current market value of the land as determined by the Valuer-General Victoria.
Victorian Government agencies must:
(i)
at all times maintain an accurate dataset of all land that is controlled by the
agency; and
(ii)
annually review agency landholdings to:
A.
justify, with reference to paragraph 2(a) of this policy, the basis upon which
each parcel of land owned or otherwise controlled by the agency is held;
and
B.
identify land that is fully utilised, partly utilised, underutilised or surplus to
agency requirements,
and submit a report on that review to the Department of Treasury and Finance to
inform Budget planning and forward estimates.
2
Application
This policy applies to all Victorian Government agencies (exclusions to this policy may apply as
detailed in the Victorian Government Landholding Guidelines).
Supporting and related documents
This policy is supported by the Victorian Government Landholding Guidelines.
Other policies which are relevant to this policy include the Victorian Government Land
Transactions Policy and Victorian Government Strategic Crown Land Assessment Policy.
Responsibilities
This policy is administered by the Department of Treasury and Finance.
The Assistant Treasurer is responsible for approving the Victorian Government
Landholding Guidelines.
3
Victorian Government Landholding Guidelines
<To be finalised and approved the Assistant Treasurer>
4
5
6