This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Victorian government has unveiled two new suburbs in Melbourne’s north as well as a new employment precinct in Ballarat.
Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said the new suburbs, Donnybrook and Woodstock, will be developed over a 30-year period, eventually becoming a home for 17,000 dwellings and 2,100 local jobs.
Plans for five local town centres, five convenience centres, six government schools, four non-government schools and 46ha of parkland are also included.
The Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) paid by developers will be $115 million, which will go towards land acquisition and construction for a future primary school at Donnybrook – named in the interim as Hayes Hill Primary School – as well as a future CFA and ambulance station, a community hub and sports grounds.
Future GAIC works will include expanded car parking at Donnybrook and a new station at Lockerbie.
“Donnybrook and Woodstock will be great places to live and raise a family, with nearby jobs for locals and affordable homes that help young Victorians achieve their dream of homeownership,” Wynne said.
The government has approved the rezoning to create a new fully planned community at Donnybrook – including the Mirvac Olivine estate.
Announcing approval of the 187-hectare Donnybrook project, Wynne said the purchase of 3.5ha had been committed for a government primary school that will join Hume Anglican Grammar in delivering early amenity to residents.
In addition, essential emergency service facilities for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Ambulance Victoria will be delivered at Mirvac’s new masterplanned community, Olivine.
Olivine will be home to approximately 7,000 people in 2,250 homes when completed in 10 to 15 years.
Approval of the Donnybrook/Woodstock Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) cements the delivery of important education, health, sports and community infrastructure within the Olivine development. Overall, the Donnybrook/Woodstock PSP covers 1,786ha in the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Mitchell and is located north of Donnybrook Road between the Melbourne-Sydney Railway and Epping-Marriang Road.
The precinct will ultimately support a residential community of approximately 16,400 dwellings, a projected population of around 46,000 and deliver more than 2100 local jobs.
Mirvac’s general manager of residential Victoria Elysa Anderson said this partnership with the government is essential to delivering early amenity to Olivine and surrounding residents of greenfield communities.
In early 2017, Olivine launched to Mirvac’s VIP database with successive release sell-outs. Buyers have predominantly been owner-occupiers and a large number of first-home buyers coming from the local area. Mirvac will release another stage to the market later this year.
The town centre planned for the site will include a medical centre, childcare facility, supermarket and specialty stores.
Meanwhile the government also appointed John Wardle Architects to design the new ‘Gov Hub’ precinct in the heart of Ballarat’s CBD.
The new precinct will be home to up to 1000 government employees – revitalising a major part of Ballarat’s CBD and promoting growth in the local economy.
The new building will be integrated in the iconic Civic Hall precinct while delivering modern offices for up to 600 government employees.
Australian Property Journal
