Twenty-five of the 50 new zones which are expected to deliver 300,000 additional homes across Melbourne by 2051 have been unveiled.

The Victorian Government has unveiled the first 25 out of 50 ‘train and tram zones, which aim to deliver more housing in and around transport links around Melbourne.

Set to deliver more than 300,000 additional new homes by 2051, the zones aim to deliver a greater quantity and variety of affordable housing options around Melbourne which are close to transport, employment and amenity.

They will add to the 10 existing initial activity centres in Broadmeadows, Camberwell, Chadstone, Epping, Frankston, Moorabbin, Niddrie, North Essendon, Preston and Ringwood.

Specific designs will vary across each zone and will be determined with community consultation.

However, the broad vision is for planning rules to be amended to facilitate taller buildings in the immediate ‘core’ at each station.

These will be supported by gentler, scaled height limits that support development of low-rise apartments and townhouses along existing houses in walkable ‘catchments’ of up to 800 meters surrounding the station.

Specific locations include:

  • Seven centres which are connected to the new Metro Tunnel will enjoy a service boost on new trains – Carnegie, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Oakleigh, Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Tottenham Stations.
  • Six centres along the Belgrave/Lilydale Line (and the existing Camberwell and Ringwood activity centres) which benefit from 5-minuted peak services: Hawthorn, Glenferrie, Auburn, Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham Stations.
  • Four centres on the Frankston Line atToorak, Hawksburn, Armadale and Malvern Stations. All level crossings on this line will go, and trains will return to the City Loop when the Metro Tunnel opens.
  • Four centres on the Sandringham Line – where eight trains per hour run during peak times – at North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham .
  • Centres on the Glen Waverley line – where nine trains per hour run during peak times – at Tooronga Station, Darling Station as well as a combined centre covering both Gardiner and Glen Iris Stations.
  • One centre, Toorak Village, in a built-up area along the Route 58 tram. This centre plus Middle Footscray are classified as smaller ‘neighbourhood activity centres’ to plan for more modest growth.

 

The latest announcement comes as Victoria is aiming to deliver up to 800,000 new homes over ten years under its Housing Statement.

This will form part of the state;’s commitment to deliver its share of the 1.2 million homes which are targeted to be delivered across Australia over the five years from 1 July 2024 under the National Housing Accord.

The announcement also comes as the state has undertaken an extensive program of level crossing removal over the past decade.

Already, 85 level crossings around Melbourne and Victoria have been removed.

The new 25 centres will be delivered in two tranches over the new twelve months.

All 50 centres are expected to be delivered by 2026.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen welcomed the announcement.

“Building more homes around 50 inner-suburban train stations means young people have more opportunity to rent or buy a place that’s directly connected to public transport,” Allan said.

“I know it won’t fix everything, but it will deliver more homes and new life to inner suburbs that are full of jobs, transport and services – where young buyers and renters are currently locked out.”

In a statement, the Property Council of Australia welcomed the announcement.

“The activity centres program is an important initiative to support new ways of delivering housing in locations with existing community infrastructure,” the Council said.

“The work done to date on the 10 pilot locations will hopefully inform the development of the activity centre plans for the new locations to ensure they are quick and comprehensive in equal measure.

“At the same time, the property industry recognises there are important local conversations required about future infrastructure and open space needs for growing communities, and we look forward to contributing to those discussions.

“We also continue to champion special economic zones including tax concessions during development for projects within activity centres, to help close the feasibility gap.”

 

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