The Victorian Government has approved plans for a major new community in Melbourne’s west, paving the way for nearly 12,000 homes, seven schools and more than five MCGs’ worth of parks and reserves.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved the Melton East Precinct Structure Plan on Friday, clearing the way for developers to begin progressing permit applications. The new community is expected to eventually house more than 36,000 residents and support about 1,600 jobs.
The 1,005-hectare precinct, located about 35 kilometres north-west of Melbourne’s CBD to the east of the existing Melton township, will include shopping facilities, four community hubs and seven schools.
The plan also provides for three new arterial roads, 14 intersections and five bridges, alongside cycling and pedestrian connections designed to link the new neighbourhoods with surrounding areas. Development will occur in two stages, with the government saying homes will be delivered alongside the infrastructure needed to support them.
The full precinct is expected to take between 20 and 30 years to develop. The approval forms part of the Victorian Government’s broader greenfields housing strategy, which aims to complete planning work for 180,000 new homes across the state over the next decade.
“We’re unlocking space to deliver thousands of more homes – as we deliver the infrastructure these communities need.”
The broader Melton area is also undergoing major infrastructure investment, including electrification of the Melton rail line, construction of the new Melton Hospital, road upgrades and improvements to local schools.
The Victorian Planning Authority says the precinct will provide residential and commercial opportunities while incorporating conservation areas along Kororoit Creek. Earlier planning documents identified significant biodiversity values in the area, including conservation areas that will be protected as development proceeds.
Alongside the Melton East approval, consultation has opened on the draft Merrifield North Precinct Structure Plan in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor. The 970-hectare employment precinct is expected to unlock capacity for more than 4,700 jobs, particularly in warehousing, transport and logistics.
The government says the two planning projects are intended to support population growth by pairing new housing and employment opportunities with schools, transport, open space and community infrastructure.
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