This episode of Melbourne for Sale walks through Volume 1 of Fair Growth Thornbury’s article series, “Only developers need apply”, in plain language.

Hosts Nathan Wilson and Evelyn Baker start with a near‑future picture of Melbourne in 2051: more apartments everywhere, but infrastructure, trees and genuine affordability lagging behind. From there, they unpack how we got here and the forces currently shaping Victoria’s planning agenda.

Across the episode, Nathan and Evelyn explore:

• The origins of Fair Growth Thornbury and what the Thornbury Activity Centre maps revealed about “manufactured consent” in planning

• How tight government finances make rezoning and rapid planning reform the “cheap” response to the housing crisis

• The rise of a YIMBY, “build, build, build” narrative that reduces housing policy to supply targets while sidelining questions of quality, equity and infrastructure

• Developer and land‑market economics – why rezonings and higher height limits don’t automatically translate into affordable, well‑built homes

• The role of activity centres as the main delivery vehicle for rapid upzoning across Melbourne, and what this looks like on the ground in places like Thornbury

• The risks of homogenised housing stock, speculative development and displacement of long‑term, often vulnerable residents

Instead of a simple NIMBY vs YIMBY culture war, the episode asks listeners to think about a deeper question: as Melbourne grows, who is the city really being built for?

If you’d like to read the full article, search for “Melbourne for Sale – Only developers need apply” on the Fair Growth Thornbury website. Or, if you prefer listening, this episode is your guided audio walk‑through.