Article: Rail land targeted for high density city development

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From the Melbourne Age click here!

Rail land targeted for high density city development

Rail land targeted for high density city development
Jason Dowling
June 23, 2012

TRAIN stations and old rail yards across Victoria are being targeted for high density residential and retail developments with at least 10 sites identified for major overhauls.

This week, Planning Minister Matthew Guy made planning changes for Richmond Station and rail land off Footscray Road called E-Gate, to put it in the same planning category as the central business district.

New documents provided to The Saturday Age show rail sites in Windsor, Prahran, Ringwood, Jolimont and Mildura have also been identified for intense development.
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Plans have already been announced for a $65 million 10-storey retail and apartment development near Glen Waverley station and for major redevelopment on rail land in Wodonga.

Developing at inner-city station sites can prove controversial. Actors Geoffrey Rush and Barry Humphries led a community march against the proposed development of Camberwell Station in 2004.

In 2010, Victoria's planning tribunal approved development plans for the station, including a nine-storey tower - work is yet to begin.

Vocal opponent of the Camberwell Station development Mary Drost said local residents were still angry about the plans and said train stations should not be seen as easy development opportunities.

The station sites are owned by VicTrack, the state government owned public transport business. ''VicTrack is just after money, they don't care if they ruin these areas,'' Ms Drost said.

Train station and rail land sites have long been viewed as strong development opportunities because of their proximity to good public transport links and community services.

Mr Guy flagged ambitious plans for the rail sites when announcing the planning changes this week.

''This puts Fishermans Bend, E-Gate and Richmond Station in the same category as the CBD, Southbank and Docklands,'' Mr Guy said.

''We are providing a clear planning framework to designate these areas for major urban renewal and this move signifies to the community and industry that we are serious about advancing these proposals, and that rezoning will progress as soon as possible,'' he said.

Yarra City Council mayor Geoff Barbour said the government should have discussed with him the planning changes for Richmond Station.

He said the government should now make clear what is intended for the site.

''I think it is only fair and proper that the community has a chance to have a say,'' Cr Barbour said.

Opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee said ''once again planning decisions are being made behind closed doors in the minister's office and the council and the community are left out''.

The development plans for the station sites have been revealed in freedom of information documents released to the state opposition.

The documents from VicTrack show in addition to the major development opportunities, more than 50 railway lease lots stretching from Swan Hill to Fairfield, have been identified for sale.

The number of lots is a big jump on last financial year when just 13 sites were sold.

VicTrack declined to answer questions on whether it had been directed by the state government to sell more of its land holdings.

Instead a spokesman said, ''since the early days of rail, land sales have been normal practice for government rail businesses. The revenue from VicTrack's land sales program is retained by VicTrack to maintain and enhance public transport''.

Mr Tee said the Baillieu government was ''engaged in a fire sale of community land to prop up its mismanaged budget''.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rail-land-targeted-for-high-density-city-development-20120622-20tti.html