The Block quits Daylesford, searching for new site after permit struggle

The Block may have pulled out of Daylesford for its 20th season, but the Hepburn Shire mayor has left the door open for a return.

Scott Cam and Shelley Craft host The Block. Picture: Channel 9

The Block has pulled the pin on plans to base its 2024 season in the country Victorian town of Daylesford and with just five months before production is due to start on the new series, the show does not have a filming location.

The shock decision to up stumps from Daylesford came after delays in getting planning permit approval, and objections from a small number of locals, for the site at 1 Raglan Street, on the outskirts of the Hepburn Shire township, that the production had pinned its hopes on.

But the Hepburn Shire Council has left the door open to discussions with The Block should the show be interested in setting a future series in the Daylesford area.

“While 1 Raglan St. has never been officially announced by Channel 9 as the site of The Block, it is understood that The Block had involvement in the five dwellings construction application,” Mayor of Hepburn Shire Council, Brian Hood, said.

“Council is looking forward to understanding the economic and social benefits that the television show may bring to the Shire and is still very much interested in having those conversations.”

The Block hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft. Picture: Channel 9

Scott Cam won’t be in Daylesford in 2024. Picture: Channel 9

Mr Hood said the permit application from the developers was due before council next month and had not been withdrawn.

Mr Hood said the council planned to approve a permit for the subdivision, but “a very small number of objections” sought to challenge the decision at VCAT.

“The developer then applied for the matter to be considered for an accelerated determination by the Planning Minister. Council is fully co-operating with both of those processes.

“The application for the five dwellings has not been withdrawn and is scheduled for a decision at its Ordinary Council Meeting on October 17.”

It is believed the decision to quit Daylesford over the permit issues has seen more than $500,000 in accommodation for cast and crew associated with the proposed show cancelled in recent days, and the loss of prospective employment for locals trades and businesses within the community.

The Block generates significant financial stimulation to any area it builds in.

More than nine months of ground work had been put into The Block’s Daylesford project but delays and uncertainty in the planning approval process led to the production having to look elsewhere for a location.

The Block has shelved plans to set the 20th season of the show in Daylesford. Pic: Supplied

“We’ve had so many successful series in so many different locations, but we don’t go where we are not welcome,” a production insider told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“Especially for the 20th series of The Block, which is so important.”

The 20th season of The Block was officially confirmed at Channel 9’s Upfront 2024 programming reveal in Sydney on Wednesday, but no location was announced.

Casting is however underway for the series with applicants told they will need to be available for filming for 12 weeks from late February 2024.

Just where they will be filming is now unclear.

Plans for the proposed Daylesford setting for The Block had been approved by the Hepburn Shire earlier this year but were challenged in VCAT and were then referred to the Planning Minister with a request for an accelerated decision.

In July it was revealed plans had been lodged for five luxury homes on a vacant piece of land at 1 Raglan Street, Daylesford.

A render of one of the proposed houses for The Block in Daylesford. Picture: Supplied

The plans were in the name of a partnership not seemingly associated with The Block or Channel 9 and the land was not owned by a Block company, however the architect, Group Architects, that was listed as the joint applicant was the Block’s regular visionary Julian Brenchley’s business.

Interestingly, the application was for new builds, which would have been a switch up for The Block.

The planning report attached to the permit application outlined plans for a proposed development of five carbon-neutral, fossil fuel free, architecturally designed, five bedroom homes.

A notice on the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning website said a proposal had been received by the minister to amend the Hepburn Planning Scheme and grant planning permits to subdivide the land and construct five dwellings at 1 Raglan Street, Daylesford and subdivide land at 9 Raglan Street, Daylesford.

“The Minister for Planning has received a request from Smith Development Partnership Pty Ltd (Hygge Property) for accelerated assessment via the Development Facilitation Program,” the notice read.

The Planning Minister opened the proposal for public consultation on August 21.

The consultation period closes on Monday (September 11).

A render of proposed plans for the five Block houses in Daylesford. Picture: Supplied

However, with no certainty as to how long it may take to get a decision on the proposal the show has made the tough and stunning decision to move on.

It is believed The Block has a couple of possible locations in inner Melbourne that are now being weighed up.

The Block host Scott Cam foreshadowed possible issues with the Daylesford location when speaking to the Sunday Herald Sun at the Logie Awards in July.

“It (the Daylesford location) has not been finalised yet,” Cam said.

“It is a bit of a problem because it has not been finalised yet and we are running out of time.

“As always, there are always council issues, so we have got some of those and we are working on them very hard.”