City of Melbourne lashes Andrews government over plans for North Melbourne’s Arden precinct

Councillors with knowledge of the Andrews government’s plans to revamp North Melbourne say it’s “not going to be a liveable precinct”.

The City of Melbourne has lashed the state government over the its plan for North Melbourne’s Arden precinct.

The City of Melbourne has lashed the state government over its plan for North Melbourne’s Arden precinct, with one councillor slamming the process as “unsatisfying and arrogant”.

The Andrews government has gazetted planning laws for the emerging hotspot near the CBD, which will grow around a brand new underground railway station built for the Metro Tunnel.

A document, known as Arden Structure Plan, set out a bold vision for the suburb to remain green and liveable as its population soared to 15,000 residents and it became home to 34,000 jobs.

The laws announced last month were released to support this plan, which has been the subject of years of consultation.

But the final details have frustrated the City of Melbourne, which oversees the area, because it believes the government has left out many crucial details that have put the plan at risk.

The new Arden Station is one of five underground stations built as part of the underground rail tunnel.

These include requests for carparking limits, mandates for affordable housing, net-zero requirements and density controls.

On Tuesday, the council will receive a report into the laws raising concerns they threaten to damage the long-term vision for the area.

It includes a resolution that the Lord Mayor write to the state government and inform them the council “will hold the government to account”.

Greens councillor Rohan Leppert, who initially called for the report said the current laws would not deliver the Arden that Victorians wanted and which had been endorsed by an independent panel.

“That’s incredibly disappointing,” he said.

“We entered a partnership with the state government to negotiate these outcomes.

“Not only did the state government ignore all the recommendations of the advisory committee, we didn't get so much as a phone call.

“It is one of the most unsatisfying and arrogant processes that I’ve been involved in during my 10 years as a councillor.”

How the precinct could look.

Cr Leppert said there were no planning controls to reach the goal of net zero emissions in Arden by 2040 and no mandatory affordable housing.

“On paper it’s not going to be an affordable precinct, it’s not going to be a sustainable precinct and its not going to be a liveable precinct,” he said.

Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said Arden was vital for the future of the city.

“We need to get the planning right, to demonstrate best practice and set new standards for urban renewal,” he said.

“The renewal of Arden will play an important role in Melbourne’s economic revitalisation – creating a significant new neighbourhood and innovation precinct less than 2km from the city.”

“The planning controls introduced by the state government do not adopt a number of key recommendations of the state’s own advisory committee, many of which aligned with concerns and issues raised by the City of Melbourne during the consultation process”

“The history of modern Melbourne tells us that if you don’t get the planning settings right upfront then we spend decades trying to fix the mess that follows.”

A state government spokeswoman said:

“The plans for Arden Precinct will create a thriving inner-city neighbourhood with vibrant streets and open spaces, new schools and community facilities, innovative water management and well-designed buildings to live and work in.

“The precinct will capitalise on our investment in the Metro Tunnel, creating a platform for sustainability, liveability, and investment as well as becoming an employment and innovation hub for sciences, health, digital technology and education sectors.”