Tuesday, 28 November 2023

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (18:41): (631) My adjournment tonight is directed towards the Minister for Planning, and it is in relation to the Cancer Council building on the corner of Victoria and Rathdowne streets in Carlton, up the road. The building is a blight on our city and has been dilapidated for over 10 years and vacant. The owner of the site has spent close to $2 million trying to get permits to demolish it and replace it with an apartment complex that could house 67 families and would be close to services, public transport and the CBD – exactly the kind of housing we want. Yet the City of Melbourne and VCAT have repeatedly rejected the application, citing heritage and urban design concerns. The site is within the World Heritage environment area of the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens, which limits the height and scale of new buildings. The building that was going to be put there was eight storeys. But in 1888 a six-storey building stood at the corner. A replication of this Victorian-era building, if put forward today, would likely be rejected by VCAT and Melbourne City Council for impinging on this World Heritage environment area.

We have got an absurd situation that benefits no-one. The site remains a blight on our streetscapes and attracts squatters, drugs and crime. The owner is frustrated and unable to proceed with this development. Locals are absolutely fed up in my electorate with the lack of action and antisocial behaviour, and potential residents – potential constituents – are denied the opportunity to live very close to the CBD and public transport in a quality and affordable apartment.

This government has a target to build 800,000 homes over the next decade – 220 homes every day, including weekends and public holidays, for 10 years. Under this government the costs of rents have gone up and up – the cost of homes – but instead of a solution we see endless bickering. Indeed the Property Investment Professionals of Australia found that one in four property investors are leaving the market altogether because it is an uncertain investment. I seek the action of the minister to explain how Victorians can expect the government to deliver on its housing target if sensible and sustainable developments like this one, which Victorians need to address Labor’s housing and rental crisis, are prevented from going ahead. What action will the minister take to ensure that this unutilised property will be developed as soon as possible to benefit all Victorians?