Furious Moonee Valley residents and councillor Hamish Jones fight Allan Government’s high-rise housing push

Northern Melbourne residents are demanding their council fight the Allan Government’s plan to fast-track high-rise developments, claiming it threatens suburban streets and strips council powers.

‘Not in our backyard’: Moonee Valley locals fight high-rise plan.

Angry residents in Melbourne’s north are banding together to fight the Allan Government’s plan to erect high-rises “in their backyard”.

Moonee Valley Council has received petitions and joint letters from about 100 residents opposing the state government’s Draft Activity Centre plan, which earmarks key locations for high-density housing as part of a push to build new homes in Moonee Valley to ease the housing crisis.

Moonee Valley Council has received petitions and joint letters from around 100 residents opposing the state government's Draft Activity Centre plan.

The plan focuses on increasing housing density in Niddrie (on Keilor Rd) and North Essendon, with high-rises in activity centre “cores” near trams, shops, and services.

Lower-rise apartments and townhouses are proposed within a 10-minute walk, with heights gradually decreasing into suburban streets.

But locals from Market St, Gilbert St, Queen St, and Collins St in Essendon – along with others – have signed a joint letter demanding the council step in to “protect their homes.”

Residents fear the high-rise towers will destroy the character of their “family-oriented” streets, raising concerns about privacy, security, and sunlight loss.

“High-density housing should only be placed near Essendon station, away from residential areas,” the letter states.

The joint letter will be tabled at Moonee Valley council’s March meeting on Tuesday.

However, it’s understood — under the Allan government’s plans — locals will only be able to appeal lower-level developments in surrounding catchment zones, not the high rises.

Moonee Valley councillor Hamish Jones has also slammed the state government’s plans, bringing forward his own notice of motion opposing the reforms that would strip planning permit powers from council.

Moonee Valley councillor for Airport ward Hamish Jones.

His motion, also to be tabled at Tuesday’s meeting, calls on council to reject the planning scheme changes, which remove residents’ rights, third-party appeal rights, and alter parking rules in the area.

Cr Jones said he was “disappointed by the government’s lack of meaningful two-way engagement” and its failure to outline infrastructure investment and developer contributions.

He also took aim at Premier Jacinta Allan’s February comments that “if councils won’t unlock space for more homes — we will,” calling them concerning.

The Airport ward councillor has urged his council to demand a more collaborative approach from the government.

“(I) call upon the mayor and CEO (or delegate) to continue advocating for sensible reforms with council and the local community at the centre of any planning decisions,” he said.

Moonee Valley council and the Department of Transport and Planning has been contacted for comment.