Council supports plan to deliver new homes
Published on 20 December 2024
The City of Whittlesea has endorsed an application to rezone industrial land in Bundoora to allow the building of a new residential neighbourhood of more than 700 new homes.
The application, lodged by a private developer, seeks to transform the former quarry site at 149 McKimmies Road into a well-designed residential neighbourhood featuring new public open space, significant tree planting and affordable housing.
At the Council Meeting on Tuesday 17 December, Council resolved to amend the Whittlesea Planning Scheme and refer the application to the Minister for Planning for final approval.
The decision is a culmination of a rigorous process under the Planning and Environment Act that included consultation with the community, an independent panel process and two previous Council decisions.
The 36.4-hectare block of land operated as a basalt quarry from 1964 until 1992, and from 2000 accepted clean fill material such as mixed clay, silt, sand, gravel and rocks.
An independent environmental auditor has assessed the rehabilitated land and determined it is suitable for residential development.
The proposed development will deliver about 730 new homes, with 5 per cent social housing and 10 per cent affordable housing, in accordance with Council policy.
The new housing will be constructed to a high environmental design standard and will provide a greater diversity in housing choice for residents in the city.
The applicant has committed to providing infrastructure to ensure a liveable and connected neighbourhood, including two local parks, shared paths and a pedestrian bridge over Darebin Creek, connecting the site to the Thomastown East Recreation Reserve and the existing Darebin Creek Trail.
The developer will also upgrade the existing roundabout on McKimmies Road and enhance the environmental values of the Darebin Creek corridor through revegetation works as part of the future development.
The application went on public exhibition in September 2023 to give residents, businesses and organisations the chance to provide feedback.
Nine submissions were received and in February 2024 Council resolved to ask the Minister for Planning to appoint an independent planning panel to consider the submissions.
The panel released its report in June 2024, which concluded the amendment was “well founded and strategically justified” and should proceed subject to specific issues being addressed.
At Tuesday’s Council Meeting, Councillors passed a resolution further addressing some of the concerns raised during the rezoning process.
The resolution included a provision to consider a secondary entry and exit point for emergency services, a requirement to upgrade the intersection of McKimmies Road and Laurie Collins Drive, and a commitment from the State Government that the future design of the E6 road project will protect residents from unwanted noise.
For more information, go to engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/psamckimmies
Quotes attributable to City of Whittlesea Mayor, Councillor Aidan McLindon:
“A lack of suitable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing the community. Transforming this rehabilitated industrial land into a residential neighbourhood that will deliver hundreds of new homes is a great outcome for our community.
“It’s also great to see that 15 per cent of the homes will be committed to social and affordable housing so that some of our most vulnerable families can live in comfort and safety.”