Brumby Government Overrides Councils For Five Major Projects

The intervention will help the Government deliver on its "Melbourne @ 5 million" planning blueprint, an update to the controversial Melbourne 2030 policy, which concentrates new medium and high density housing around existing transport nodes.

The projects to have been given the green tick by Planning Minister Justin Madden, include the $1 billion Pentridge Prison redevelopment in Coburg, which includes apartment towers of around 20-levels.

The 16.5 hectare Amcor site in Alphington, for sale as a development site at the moment, is another project sped through by Mr Madden this week. The site is expected to make way for about 2,000 homes, and sell for between $120 million and $150 million as a development site, sources say.

A $250 million redevelopment of the Werribee Plaza shopping centre has also been sped through by the Labor government, as well as  $350 million extension of the Monash University campus in Caulfield, an the rezoning of land near Waurn Ponds, on the Geelong outskirts.

The government took control of the Common Ground public housing project in Elizabeth Street, Carlton, in February, and is ensuring public housing is considered or incorporated in many major new residential projects, including the former Maribyrnong Ammunition factory, north-west of Melbourne (about 20 per cent of which will be public).

Public housing has been incorporated into other major residential projects around Melbourne, and is speculated will be incorporated into many developments which may reap the rewards of the "Rudd Bank", for finance.

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.