Sandown Racecourse would be redeveloped into huge housing estate under MRC proposal
Springvale could be home to an extra 16,000 people as dramatic plans to transform Sandown Racecourse into a huge housing estate steamroll ahead, with a councillor saying he expects building to start by the mid-2020s.
South East
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New details have emerged on dramatic plans to shut Sandown Racecourse and build a huge housing estate with thousands of dwellings.
Greater Dandenong councillor Peter Brown told the Leader councillors had been briefed two weeks ago by Melbourne Racing Club planners on a proposed sale of the racecourse.
“Councillors have been told there have been more than 7000 dwellings proposed to house about 16,000 residents,” Cr Brown said.
“The proposal will also widen Corrigan Rd into a four-lane major road.”
MRC has confirmed it has sought to re-zone Sandown but said no decisions on redevelopment had been made yet.
Cr Brown called on the club not to sell up but to retain the racecourse and spend money upgrading Sandown to “attract people to come to it which they haven’t been doing”.
He said while no formal application had been lodged with the council, “lengthy talks” were taking place between the MRC and the council.
He said the development plan was “fairly well-developed at this stage” and it was envisaged it would be complete in five years.
“One of the critical issues for the council is that we’re entitled to 20 per cent of the total area of Sandown Racecourse as public open space and council’s also arguing there needs to be a dedicated area for a primary school based on the number of residences being proposed,” he said.
The racecourse opened in 1965 and its motor circuit which has long stood as a premium car racing venue in Melbourne opened three years prior.
Cr Brown said when the formal application was submitted he would have to declare a conflict of interest.
“I’m a member of the Melbourne Racing Club and I stood unsuccessfully for an election to the committee, with the main reason being I was opposed to the closure of Sandown Racecourse.”
A Melbourne Racing Club spokeswoman said the MRC has sought a planning scheme amendment to re-zone Sandown from Special Use Zone to Comprehensive Development Zone. “The application is being reviewed by council’s planning officers with input from various parties including state government agencies,” the spokeswoman said.
“No decisions regarding development, design or future planning have been made for Sandown. Re-zoning is not a trigger for redevelopment.”
The spokeswoman said all activities, including car racing, would remain in place during this process.
“MRC is a member’s club. Any discussion in relation to future use at Sandown will happen in consultation with its members.”
The club has invited Greater Dandenong Council’s planning department to the CF Orr Stakes Day event in Caulfield this year.
Cr Brown said the council’s chief executive has told him he instructed the town planning department not to accept it.
The MRC spokeswoman said key stakeholders were invited to attend MRC events from time to time – including management staff as well as councillors.
“In answer to your question about invitations, Dandenong reps have been guests of the MRC on many occasions previously – this includes Peter Brown as recently as November last year,” she said.
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“Council has at this stage not sought authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit a planning scheme amendment,” Mr Bosman said.
“If, and when, an application is lodged with council this will commence a statutory process and at that stage there will be finalisation of and clarity on the proposed details actually being proposed by the land owner.”