Moonee Valley Racecourse grandstands to be demolished for huge new housing development
Historic Moonee Valley Racecourse grandstands that have stood for almost 100 years will be demolished to make way for Victoria’s biggest fast-tracked housing development, with the $709m plan set to deliver more than 1000 new homes.
A huge $709m development that will include the construction of more than 1000 new homes where a series of historic Moonee Valley Racecourse grandstands have stood for as long as 99 years has been approved by the state government.
Planning Sonya Kilkenny has given the green light for the state’s biggest project approved through the government’s fast track “Development Facilitation Program”.
The site of the existing grandstands will make way for 1092 new homes, ranging from studio to three bedrooms, across four apartment buildings – including more than 500 build-to-rent homes.
The development also includes a 184-room residential hotel, more than 3000sq m of shops and office space.
It will dramatically transform The Valley precinct and Moonee Ponds.
Ms Kilkenny confirmed she had signed off on the major development on Monday.
“This is the biggest project we’ve fast-tracked so far – delivering more great homes for more Victorian families,” she said.
“We’ve fast-tracked thousands of homes through this streamlined pathway – because we know the best way to make housing more affordable is to build more of them.”
The revamp will deliver new green spaces including an extension of Tote Park, a pedestrian link known as Cox Place, and a pocket park at the corner of Dean St and Feehan Ave.
The project will form part of the broader Moonee Valley Racecourse redevelopment, which also includes rebuilding the public grandstand after this month’s Cox Plate and opening the infield of the track for public use.
Matt Malseed, managing director of Hamton – developer of the project – said it would include a “mixed-use dining and retail village called Cox Place to be delivered at Moonee Valley Park.”
“Two weeks after this year’s Cox Plate we commence demolition of MVRC’s grandstands to clear the land where these newly approved buildings will be constructed,” he said.
“The club’s existing grandstands have three elements – the South Hill Stand dates back to circa 1926, the S.R. Burston Stand was constructed in 1958 and the Member’s Stand in 1976. “All grandstands have been officially photographed for heritage archives in accordance with planning requirements.”
Punters in those stands have witnessed some of Australia’s greatest racing moment’s including Winx’s record four straight Cox Plate triumphs and the feats of equine immortals such as Phar Lap, Sunline, Kingston Town, Better Loosen Up, Bonecrusher and Northerly.
The Herald Sun in 2022 revealed earlier plans to fast track a $200m redevelopment of The Valley racecourse including sports fields in the middle of the track and a new grandstand facing the CBD.
A huge new city-facing grandstand and club house will be built at the Valley to replace the stands that are bulldozed.
Designed as a multipurpose venue, the grandstand will host weddings, functions and seminars on non race days, the club’s administration base and co-working office spaces for hire.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club hopes the major works help the venue become the night racing capital of the world.
The government said its Development Facilitation Program “streamlines the planning process for priority projects that boost investment into the economy, keep people in jobs, and create homes.”
To be eligible, housing projects must deliver at least 10 per cent affordable housing.
Since the program opened two years ago, more than 6000 homes have been fast-tracked for construction.
Essendon Labor MP Danny Pearson said: “Moonee Valley’s transformation is off and racing – this project will create more than one thousand new homes, new jobs, and new green spaces for our community”.
