Outraged Brighton residents gather to voice fury over Jacinta Allan’s plan for fast-tracked high rise towers
A crowd of up to 100 furious Bayside locals gathered to heckle Premier Jacinta Allan ahead of a press conference about her plans for high rises in 50 new Melbourne areas.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A crowd of up to 100 furious Bayside locals gathered on Church St Brighton to heckle Premier Jacinta Allan ahead of a press conference.
It comes after the state government revealed plans for suburban high rises to soar above 50 transport hubs across Melbourne to tackle the housing crisis.
Ms Allan has today announced the first 25 locations where towers would be encouraged through special new “train and tram zones”.
Among them were North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Toorak Village and Toorak.
Ahead of her press conference, frustrated Bayside resident Michael Saba said he feared that huge apartment buildings would lead to overcrowding around Middle Brighton station, noting the Sandringham train line still had level crossings.
“The state government hasn’t seen fit to put the railway line under ground,” he said.
“Now, we’ll just get overcrowded, that’s the fear.”
Local resident Vickie slammed the Premier, suspecting the government was going to “steamroll” local councils and residents.
“None of us want these high rise buildings in our area,” she said.
“It’s wrong. They can’t just steam roll everybody all the time.”
Brighton MP James Newbury was quick to slam the government on Sunday, calling plans to build high-rise apartments in Bayside “desperate” and “nasty”.
“Jacinta Allan’s failed plan is to stuff half of Victoria’s population growth into three council areas,” he said.
“It’s a desperate plan because Labor’s Housing Statement has failed.”
Mr Newbury asked the crowd whether they had been consulted over the plans, prompting “no’s” and booing.
“I think what is clear is that nobody was asked whether they wanted 20-storey apartment towers in their streets,” he said, as locals booed.
“And the Premier won’t even come down and talk to you.”
“Shame, Premier, shame,” was chanted as the Premier walked in.
Meanwhile in Toorak, concerned Nick said he was “deeply disappointed” that the suburb he has lived in for over 15 years could be overcome with crowding.
“It’s just not really right,” he said.
“We’ve lived here for so many years, it’s just going to turn into chaos if this goes ahead.”
While speaking in Brighton, Ms Allan hit back at Mr Newbury, blaming “blockers” of development for holding up housing projects.
“People have behaved like the Liberal Party have behaved today,” she said, pointing towards the crowd.
“I’m a builder, not a blocker.”
Ms Allan claimed that there was “space around these train stations” to build high rises.
“This is exactly, exactly where Victorians have told us they want to see more homes built,” she said.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said each activity centre would be different and the community would be consulted.
But she couldn’t rule out apartment buildings of up to 20 storeys in suburbs like Brighton.
“What might be a right size and height for one centre might not be the right fit for another,” she said.
Asked why the government had made such a significant announcement during care-taker mode for councils, Ms Kilkenny said “housing doesn’t wait for anyone”.
Ms Allan was also quizzed over whether Victorians want to live in apartments, arguing that the government was “giving people choice”.
Originally published as Outraged Brighton residents gather to voice fury over Jacinta Allan’s plan for fast-tracked high rise towers
Kouta’s running mate had tower plans in same area he wants to boost height limits
A would-be deputy mayor, running with Anthony Koutoufides, had applied to build a high rise in the same area he is campaigning to increase building height limits.
Nurse’s modest ambition exposes big housing market myth
For Gary, investing in property was something he was surprised he could do. But he says he gets really frustrated by one big issue of the Vic government’s recent property market decisions.