This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
DEVELOPER Riverlee’s ambitious $2 billion mixed-use community New Epping has gained approval to transform a dormant 51 hectare site into a healthcare and life sciences precinct, housing, commercial space and the largest medical hub in Melbourne’s north.
The City of Whittlesea has approved the project after the first stage was fast-tracked by the Victorian Government’s Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce in December, 2020.
Riverlee development director David Lee said New Epping will transform a dormant 51-hectare site into a healthcare, housing, employment and commercial precinct, setting a new benchmark in how an integrated mixed-use development can meet the demands of a rapidly growing population.
“We want New Epping to set a new standard in urban renewal, with a more thoughtful approach to how we regenerate infill sites and integrate mixed-use communities. Diversity is key to the success in a mixed-use precinct — that is what makes for a resilient community,” said Lee.
As well as deliver critical healthcare infrastructure, the project will generate $3.4 billion for the local economy – about 1% of Victoria’s current GDP – and create more than 7,200 jobs when it is completed and fully operational.
Home to 220,000 people, the growing City of Whittlesea is expected to reach a population of 380,000 by 2041. Healthcare is the largest employer in the area and the Northern Hospital, which employs 5,700 staff, is home to the busiest emergency department in Victoria. Situated next to the hospital, New Epping’s 7-hectare health, wellness and knowledge precinct will create an additional 646 new jobs in allied health. Plans also include the Northern Private Hospital, which was fast-tracked by the Victorian Government in 2020 and is currently under construction. Operated by Ramsay Health Care, it will create a further 726 jobs once in operation.
“The healthcare sector is of critical importance to the City of Whittlesea, not only in terms of patient care but also as the city’s largest employer. The provision of a new health and wellness precinct at New Epping will guarantee the wellbeing of its residents, create jobs and help the state’s healthcare system cope with demand,” he added.
There will be a masterplanned community providing 2,000 homes including townhomes, apartments, affordable housing, retirement residences and aged care.
In addition to healthcare infrastructure and housing, the masterplan includes 110,000sqm of commercial space, along with retail and hospitality, supporting an additional 5,742 workers.
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said Riverlee’s vision to transform the dormant site will provide significant benefit to the growing northern corridor and its community.
“This landmark project will provide employment opportunities, economic stimulus and the infrastructure required to create a vibrant urban environment that is underpinned by wellness and sustainability,” Wilson said. “Riverlee has created a vision for New Epping that builds on the cornerstones of our community — healthcare as our leading industry, the need for quality housing for people at all stages of life, and sustainability as a way of ensuring a bright and healthy future for our younger generations. With its challenging site conditions, the former Epping Quarry has laid dormant for decades. Its transformation is something the entire community can look forward to.”
New Epping’s built spaces will target Net Zero, other sustainability measures include a central green spine and waterway rehabilitation.
“By looking at design at the neighbourhood scale, we have had the privilege to not only regenerate the natural environment but also lay the foundations for a community underpinned by connection and wellness.
“Across five neighbourhoods, we will be delivering a range of commercial, healthcare, residential and civic spaces that will cement Epping as the CBD of Melbourne’s north. In doing so, we want to bring all the character you find in the inner north of Melbourne to Epping and in that sense, this project is ahead of its time and will redefine the suburbs of the future.” Lee said.
Riverlee will lodge further permits this year.
