Epping is set to have 60,000 new homes as the State Government moves to introduce planning controls by the end of 2024.
The Victorian Planning Authority identified Epping as one of 10 activity centres in Melbourne, guiding the investment of community infrastructure.
The other nine suburbs include Broadmeadows, Camberwell Junction, Chadstone, Frankston, Niddrie – Keilor Road, North Essendon, Preston – High Street, and Ringwood.
The activity centres are part of the State Government’s housing statement, with an overall target to build 80,000 homes over the next decade to address Melbourne’s booming population and housing crisis.
The State Government claimed in September there was backlog of about 1400 planning permit applications for multi-unit houses awaiting council approvals for more than six months.
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny is recruiting 90 staff to help councils progress the backlog of planning permit applications.
But some councils part of the activity centre plans expressed frustration at the State Government, claiming the government wants to impose planning legislation and take away their control.
While councils, such as Boroondara, with built-up suburbs and well-established transport haven’t supported the plan, City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said council was ‘delighted’ the Epping Metropolitan Activity Centre, MAC, was identified and prioritised for new planning controls.
Ms Wilson said council was ‘well placed’ to partner with the government’s Department of Transport and Planning ‘to realise the vision for a higher density, mixed urban precinct ’.
She said it would leverage off strategic advantages of the area, including employment anchors, such as the Northern Hospital, Melbourne Polytechnic Epping campus, and the adjacent Cooper Street Employment Precinct, which includes the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market; a large regional scale shopping centre; and transport connections.
“Crucial to the success of the MAC and investment in the area, will be the commitment from the government for improved rail access through the extension of the line through the activity centre from Lalor to Wollert, to connect employment areas and homes,” she said.
Council’s Epping Central Structure Plan, endorsed in June this year, was revitalised to adopt rapidly-changing circumstances and opportunities for a thriving activity centre.
The next step for council is to work with the government to build planning controls ‘to provide certainty and clarity’ to the community, landowners, investors, and developers to carry out the vision for Epping.
Ms Wilson said the scale and significance of a MAC required both public and private sector investment, and partnerships to achieve its objectives.
“We encourage and welcome the State Government’s involvement in the planning and future implementation of the MAC, leveraging off council’s strategic, well-informed work and local knowledge, and ensuring the MAC is well designed and particular to its place and strategic location,” she said.
“As a council we have been working closely with major developers and landowners in the precinct to master plan sites and deliver significant investment in Epping, including a new private hospital, affordable housing and new commercial and retail development.”
Ms Wilson said council would continue to examine and approve planning permit applications, with decisions made efficiently while advocating for high quality outcomes for its future neighbourhoods.
