By Tom Cowie
It’s just 20 metres across and was once a railway line, but the state government wants to squeeze homes into this quirkily shaped strip of land known as the “tail”.
As part of the development process for the former VicRoads site in Kew, the Allan government has proposed rezoning the 2.67-hectare property – including the narrow tail – to a mix of residential and commercial zones.
With developers circling, the proposal – which would pave the way for at least 500 private homes – has been met with calls for part of the land to be set aside for a new shared-use bike path, connecting Kew to Hawthorn and taking cyclists off busy roads.
A City of Boroondara submission to the state government, which will be voted on by councillors next week, opposes the rezoning of the tail into residential, arguing it would be better as open space.
The narrow dimensions of the land, which the council said was approximately 20 metres wide and 280 metres long, is one of the reasons given for the objection.
After the railway was decommissioned in 1957, the land – which sits adjacent to Xavier College’s sports ovals – was later used as a VicRoads car park until the building closed last year.
The VicRoads building last year before it was closed.Credit: Penny Stephens
“The shape and size of the ‘tail’ section of the site means it will be difficult to develop for an appropriate residential development, particularly as it abuts existing residential properties and a school,” said Scott Walker, Boroondara’s director of urban living.
The tail presents a “unique opportunity” to provide open space, according to the Boroondara submission, which also made a veiled jab at the state government’s intentions for the property.
“Rezoning to [residential] to increase the revenue (through increased land value) would represent an opportunity lost for the Victorian government to demonstrate it can think and act strategically rather than being single-mindedly focused on the provision of housing,” the submission says.
“More importantly, letting this unique opportunity slip would ultimately be to the detriment of the resident population of any future housing development on the former VicRoads site.”
The old Kew railway station, which was knocked down to make way for the VicRoads building.Credit: State Library of Victoria
A state government spokesperson said the VicRoads site was another example of vacant government land being unlocked to deliver more homes for Victorians where they were needed.
“We’re working with councils across Victoria to ensure we give more Victorians the opportunity to find a home in areas that are close to jobs, transport and services,” the spokesperson said.
Boroondara Bicycle Users Group secretary Peter Campbell said that the idea of building a bike and pedestrian route through the tail had been on the agenda for more than 10 years.
“I’m concerned that the state government is strapped for cash, and it’s going to just sell land off to developers without actually having provision for the shared path,” he said.
Peter Campbell, secretary of the Boroondara Bicycle Users Group, outside the former VicRoads building.Credit: Joe Armao
“If we don’t get that, it’s a very bad outcome for the community, including residents of the new housing that goes on that site.”
Boroondara councillor Victor Franco, a supporter of the council submission, said it was important to grasp the opportunity to improve cycling safety.
“It’s an absolutely unique one-off chance,” he said. “Once this site is redeveloped, the opportunity will be lost forever if we don’t seize it now – we’re very fortunate that this is still there.”
If the council’s plan for the tail succeeds, an unbroken off-road connection from Kew to Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn would still need to be provided.
New traffic lights would also be required to ensure safe crossing at Barkers Road, while the old California Hotel site at 138 Barkers Road – now an empty block – sits directly in the way of the proposed bike path.
Franco said the council was exploring options to ensure the privately owned property could accommodate cyclists and pedestrians passing through.
The proposal to rezone the land is part of a draft amendment to the Boroondara planning scheme.
Submissions are being taken as part of a consultation process, with the final decision by the planning minister due in October.
Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.