Protests as Jacinta Allan pushes suburban high-rise towers
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced the first 25 locations for new ‘train and tram zone activity centres’, but some locals are not happy.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has been heckled by a 100-strong crowd in Melbourne as she attempted to spruik her government’s plan to help ease the state’s housing crisis.
Ms Allan held a press conference at Middle Brighton station on Sunday where she announced the first 25 locations for 50 new “train and tram zone activity centres”, which aim to deliver more than 300,000 new homes in developments reportedly up to 20 storeys in height across Melbourne by 2051.
The new centres are to be built near public transport in suburbs such as Brighton, Carnegie, Oakleigh, West Footscray, Armadale and Mitcham.
However a crowd of residents voiced their opposition to the plan at the event on Sunday, including fears it could lead to overcrowding.
Among the crowd was Brighton Liberal MP James Newbury.
“Jacinta Allan’s failed plan is to stuff half of Victoria’s population growth into three council areas,” Mr Newbury told The Herald Sun.
“It’s a desperate plan because Labor’s Housing Statement has failed.
“I think what is clear is that nobody was asked whether they wanted 20-storey apartment towers in their streets.”
When asked to confirm the height of the new buildings on Sunday, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny refused to rule out 20-storey developments but said there would be community consultation before they were built.
“Let’s not overstate these heights, let’s not add mischief into this,” Ms Kilkenny said.
“What might be a right height and size in one centre, might not be the right fit for another.
“We expect in the activity centre core that there will be higher buildings, and as you move out from the core, those buildings will be more gradual, more townhouse, duplex-style.”
Ms Allan said building more homes around 50 inner-suburban train stations would give young people more opportunity to rent or buy a place that was directly connected to public transport.
“I know it won’t fix everything, but it will deliver more homes and new life to inner suburbs that are full of jobs, transport and services – where young buyers and renters are currently locked out,” Ms Allan said.
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