State plan to redevelop public housing estate may clash with its own rules on height limits

A STATE government plan to demolish ageing housing estates and replace them with public-private accommodation could fall foul of its own planning rules.

Public housing in Molesworth St, North Melbourne was set to be redeveloped into public-private housing.

A STATE government plan to demolish ageing housing estates and replace them with public-private accommodation could fall foul of its own planning rules.

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A proposal to revive a low-rise estate in North Melbourne has revealed that developers can consider 12 storeys, even though a height limit of 11m, or three levels, was introduced just this year.

Fifteen post-war buildings occupy the site bordered by Abbotsford, Molesworth and Haines streets.

Former Melbourne lord mayor and North Melbourne resident Kevin Chamberlin said he supported public housing renewal but the development’s intensity was alarming.

“This proposal is far more ambitious than those you’d see from developers,” he said.

Mr Chamberlin said careful planning was needed to ensure sufficient infrastructure — including schools — was in place to support a larger community.

“North Melbourne Primary is already packed to the gunwales,’’ he said.

City of Melbourne deputy planning chairman Rohan Leppert. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

One North Melbourne resident said the neighbourhood was traditionally low-rise.

“And it’s not the public tenants who get the benefit of the height restrictions being tossed out. It’s the private developers,’’ he said.

Housing Minister Martin Foley said the sketch plan was a representation of what might be possible on the site, and no formal plans were in place.

“Heights and storey levels on all the estates are still to be determined and will be subject to planning approval,” he said.

City of Melbourne deputy planning chairman Rohan Leppert said the council had spoken to the state about the North Melbourne plans.

“Redevelopment of the North Melbourne Abbotsford St public housing won’t be simple, given this is a large site within an established and diverse community,’’ he said.

The $185 million state government program in eight suburbs will lead to the estates being sold to developers to create a mix of social housing and private apartments. Public housing will increase by 10 per cent as part of the deal.

At the Debney precinct estate in Flemington, a 20-storey block could be built overlooking Racecourse Rd, even though the current decrepit walk-up flats are just four storeys. Twenty-two post-war buildings will be knocked down at the state government-owned site.

The new high-rise would be built near the four 21-storey towers, which went up in the 1960s.

Low-rise public housing in the Debneys precinct in Victoria St, Flemington was set to be redeveloped into new public-private housing.

Flemington Association spokesman John Dickie welcomed the replacement of the low-rise buildings but the community was concerned about the lack of detail in the plans and the speed of the process.

“The association is concerned that steps ... to rapidly redevelop the estate without a proper analysis or consultation with those likely to be affected and without clear objectives as to what will be achieved,’’ a submission to the government said.

The second phase of the improvements would see a makeover of the Debneys Park and Flemington community garden areas, an area owned by the City of Moonee Valley.

Moonee Valley acting Mayor Cam Nation said that while detailed plans had not been presented to the council, it supported integrating private housing with social housing units.

“The walk-up flats on the Flemington housing estate are in extremely poor condition, and are not considered a suitable place for local families to live,’’ Cr Nation said.

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