By Charlene Gatt
VICURBAN has released its draft shared vision for the Maribyrnong Defence Site 10 months after announcing it would transform the former explosives site into a residential estate.
The developers will focus on five main themes to shape the master plan, including:
– Celebrating the river and landscape;
– Building on the histories of the site;
– Building on the strengths of the existing community;
– A diverse and inclusive community; and – An eye to the future.
VicUrban said the masterplan, which will start to be drawn up this year, would be developed in line with these five themes, which were created through community consultation sessions. Community consultation for the development started in October last year and is expected to run over the next three years while the Department of Defence cleans up the site.
“It’s up to the community to drive the masterplan outcomes,” VicUrban’s development director of urban revitalisation Andrew Iles said. VicUrban will officially purchase the 128-hectare former explosive factory once the clean-up is complete.
The site has been earmarked for 3000 homes, including affordable and social housing, plus opportunities for blue collar industry and small businesses.
The draft vision is currently on the VicUrban website and is available for public comment until 28 April. The draft will then be finalised and released in the second half of 2010. To view the draft vision, visit www.vicurban.com
