Your Voice in Government: Sustainable Landscapes, Fair Regulation

Landscaping Victoria is championing sustainable housing policy and fair regulation for landscapers. Our advocacy with the Victorian Government focuses on mandatory green infrastructure, realistic insurance requirements, and reforms that protect members while creating healthier, more liveable communities. Read on to learn more.

Ritchie Hinton  |  4 Sep 2025  |  3 min read

At Landscaping Victoria (LV), our role goes beyond supporting members day-to-day. We’re also working behind the scenes to make sure your voice is heard where it counts.

From housing supply to insurance reform, LV is putting landscapers on the agenda with government and regulators, ensuring the industry is recognised and fairly represented.

Housing & Liveable Landscapes

Victoria’s housing challenge is about more than just numbers. New homes should be part of healthy, liveable communities, with landscapes that support people and the environment for the long term.

That’s why LV is calling for mandatory green infrastructure in housing policy; from canopy trees that provide shade, to biodiverse planting that encourages wildlife, to water-sensitive design that makes gardens more resilient.

We’ve also been clear about what “success” looks like in landscape design: gardens that are functional, sustainable, beautiful, and manageable for years to come. And we’re reinforcing that these outcomes are best achieved when projects are delivered by LV Members; trusted professionals who are vetted, insured, and committed to quality.

Regulation, Insurance & the Building & Plumbing Commission

Alongside housing, LV has been tackling regulatory reform with the new Building & Plumbing Commission (BPC), especially when it comes to Domestic Building Insurance (DBI).

Right now, landscapers are being asked to take out insurance for the full value of projects, even when much of the work, such as planting, isn’t covered by insurers. This inflates costs, pushes up premiums, and ultimately leaves both landscapers and clients worse off.

Our position is straightforward: regulations should reflect the reality of our work. That means:

• Excluding non-structural works from DBI requirements.

• Ensuring landscapers are only liable for the parts of a project they deliver.

• Making rectification orders fairer and more proportionate.

• Providing landscaper-specific resources and education in plain English.

Looking Ahead

LV supports strong, consistent regulation in the building industry. It protects consumers and raises standards. But the system must make sense for landscaping, where most projects are non-structural and shouldn’t be treated the same way as building a home.

Our advocacy continues to focus on achieving practical, fair outcomes: protecting member businesses, reducing unnecessary costs, and ensuring communities benefit from quality, sustainable landscapes.

Be Part of the Change

Advocacy works best when it’s fuelled by real stories and experiences. That’s why we invite members to share insights, challenges, and examples from the ground. Every perspective strengthens our voice with government.

Together, we’re shaping a future where landscapers are valued not only as part of the housing conversation, but as essential contributors to greener, healthier, more liveable communities.

Not yet an LV Member? Find out more about joining and add your voice to the movement.