New State Housing and Infrastructure Bills Set to Reshape Services and Costs in Mentone

Two bills currently advancing through the state legislature, the Residential Tenancy Amendment Act 2026 and the Regional Infrastructure Maintenance Appropriations Bill 2026, are expected to produce measurable changes in Mentone within the next six to eighteen months. The tenancy bill, which passed its second reading on June 30, tightens notice requirements for landlords and caps annual rent increases at a fixed percentage above the consumer price index. The infrastructure bill, scheduled for a committee vote on July 14, allocates new funds to road and drainage maintenance across the region. Together, the two measures touch housing costs, local transport and the budget envelope that funds community services.

The timing matters for Mentone. The suburb sits within a regional government zone that has seen a 14 percent increase in renter households over the past five years, according to the most recent state planning census. Vacancy rates in the postcode have stayed below two percent for the past three quarters, meaning supply remains tight and rental price pressure has been acute. Separately, the state Auditor-General's 2025 infrastructure report identified the Mentone foreshore road corridor as one of eleven suburban connectors classified as "at-risk" for deferred maintenance costs exceeding the allocated municipal repair budget.

What the Tenancy Bill Means for Renters and Landlords in Mentone

Under the Residential Tenancy Amendment Act 2026, landlords will be required to give 90 days written notice before terminating a periodic lease without grounds, up from the current 60 days. Rent increase notices must be issued 75 days in advance, extended from 60 days, and any increase above the CPI-linked cap, set at CPI plus 1.5 percent under the draft legislation, will require landlord justification submitted to the state tenancy tribunal. For a Mentone renter currently paying the postcode median of roughly $520 per week for a two-bedroom unit, the cap mechanism is projected to limit annual increases to approximately $16-$22 per week above inflation, according to the state government's regulatory impact statement published alongside the bill. The legislation states that enforcement will run through the existing tribunal system, with no additional filing fees for tenants lodging complaints below a $2,000 dispute threshold.

Local advocates working with the Mentone Community Support Network say the extended notice periods are particularly relevant for households with school-age children, who face disruption to enrolment zones when forced to relocate mid-year. The bill does not, however, introduce vacancy controls or limit the number of rent increases per year to one, a provision that tenant groups had lobbied for and that was removed in the June committee revision.

Infrastructure Funding and What It Means for Local Roads and Clinics

The Regional Infrastructure Maintenance Appropriations Bill 2026 proposes a state-level allocation of $340 million across thirty-two council areas, with funding distributed by a formula weighting road surface age, drainage backlog and population density. Based on the published formula and Mentone's council area profile, policy analysts at the Public Infrastructure Institute estimate the local government body is likely to receive between $4.1 million and $5.8 million over three years if the bill passes in its current form. The state government says the policy will address the backlog identified in the 2025 Auditor-General report within four years for corridors ranked in the top two risk tiers. The foreshore road corridor near Mentone station falls within tier two under the Auditor-General's classification.

A less-publicised clause in the appropriations bill also designates 8 percent of each council allocation for primary health infrastructure, including minor capital works at community health clinics. The Mentone Community Health Centre, which currently operates four days per week due to a facility constraint in its consultation rooms, is expected to be eligible for works funding under this clause. The centre's governing body confirmed in its 2025-26 annual report that expanding to a five-day schedule requires an estimated $180,000 in room partitioning and ventilation upgrades.

Both bills are expected to reach the full chamber for final votes before the legislature's winter recess closes on August 8. Residents can submit written comments to the relevant standing committees through the state parliament's online portal until July 18 for the tenancy bill and July 21 for the appropriations bill. The Mentone local government office has confirmed it will publish a plain-language summary of both measures on its community noticeboard and website once the final texts are certified.