Liberals to scrap 70-year Punt Road acquisition overlay
The Victorian Liberal party has promised to remove the long-running Punt Road Public Acquisition Overlay – freeing about 140 properties from a road-widening reservation dating back to 1954.
The overlay covers a 20-metre-wide strip along 2.6 kilometres of Punt Road, between Alexandra Avenue, South Yarra and Union Street, Windsor.
It was introduced to preserve land for a future road widening under transport plans that envisaged significant expansion of Melbourne’s inner-city road network.
No widening project proceeded.
State holds a hectare
A Public Acquisition Overlay reserves land for a future public purpose and can restrict development that might compromise its eventual acquisition.
Affected owners can face additional planning requirements, reduced development flexibility and uncertainty when selling or improving their properties.
The state holds 22 properties along the corridor – keeping many vacant.
Its combined land area is c9880 square metres (continues below).
Removing the reservation after an election win would allow those properties to be redeveloped or sold. Many historic properties could also be retained.
Widening debate
The future of the overlay has been debated for years.
A state-appointed advisory committee examined options in 2015-16, including modifying or partially removing the reservation.
The group recommended a modified design retaining four traffic lanes mid-block and upgrading intersections.
The government ultimately retained it.
There were also transport concerns: Stonnington and Yarra councils argued widening Punt Rd would increase traffic and congestion, potentially impacting heritage properties, local streets and environmental and recreational links around the Yarra River.
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