Hard Yakka factory site in Broadmeadows slated for $150 million housing development

ALMOST 200 townhouses, specialty shops and a supermarket would be built under a $150 million redevelopment of the former Hard Yakka site in Broadmeadows.

The former Hard Yakka factory on 2-26 King William St will soon be redeveloped.

ALMOST 200 townhouses, specialty shops and a supermarket would be built under a $150 million redevelopment of the former Hard Yakka site in Broadmeadows.

The Leader can reveal a planning application has been lodged with Hume Council to construct 187 townhouses of up to three storeys at 2-26 King William St.

The 3.3ha site was bought by developer Gorway Projects for $11 million last year.

The collection of former factories on the property include the building that for decades was the headquarters of work wear clothing manufacturer, Hard Yakka.

Vanessa Lawless, the director of Rox Real Estate which is overseeing the sales and marketing of the development, said the plan was scaled down from the original vision.

A proposal by a former developer several years ago wanted 600 units of up to eight storeys for the site.

“This is a better outcome from a liveability point of view and it suits the community a lot better,” Ms Lawless said.

“Meadowlink will act as the open space component because there will be direct access to it on the boundary.”

The development will run adjacent the Meadowlink Community Park, a 3.2km bicycle, pedestrian and open space link, which is due for construction this year.

Ms Lawless said the development would pay homage and respect to the Hard Yarra history.

“When the demolition team was there they retained as many bricks out of the building as possible and they will be used in the construction of the townhouses,” she said.

“They retained 80-90,000 bricks which will all be reused.”

Broadmeadows Progress Association assistant secretary Sonja Rutherford feared the housing plan would exacerbate the traffic congestion and lack of schools and open space in the area.

“We have problems with traffic, parking, and a shortfall of open space and these issues are not being resolved,” she said.

“We have high density occurring all around us at a rapid pace and how are we going to accommodate all the new residents moving?

“Meadowlink is not parkland; it’s a pathway, it’s three car spaces wide.”

The Hard Yakka land is nominated for “residential intensification” under the council’s Broadmeadows Activity Area Structure Plan.

Hume planning and development acting director Michael Sharp said the council was supportive of proposals that redeveloped under-utilised land in the area with diverse, higher-density housing.

The application is under assessment by council officers, with a report to be prepared for a future council meeting.

If given the green light a sales office will be on-site by May/June.