Tuesday, 14 November 2023

Northern Metropolitan Region

Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:57): (541) My constituency question is to the Minister for Planning. One of my constituents Dr Clare Karunanithy, a long-time resident of Coburg, reached out to me as she has been observing the gradual dilapidation of the former Kangan Batman TAFE campus. The campus is located on publicly owned land that has been disused for over 10 years. We know that the property was leased to the Level Crossing Removal Project for redevelopment by the state government, but it has continued to sit unused since the Coburg section of the project was completed in 2021. An assessment of redevelopment options was planned for the site; however, it is unclear whether this assessment was undertaken. This part of Coburg, residents and the community tell me, is in need of a community space, and this site is perfectly situated for a library, an art gallery or even a school according to them. Minister, what is the government planning to do with this abandoned site, and will the community be consulted before any redevelopment decisions are made?