Thursday, 29 May 2025

Blackburn activity centre

Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:58): I rise today to share concerns on behalf of the residents of Blackburn regarding the future of Blackburn Village in the activity centre that has been designated over it. For generations Blackburn Village has been more than a commercial strip, it has been a genuine community hub and a home to family-run cafes, local grocers and small businesses that have served that community very well, but the character is deeply under threat.

The Blackburn activity centre is opening the way for anything from six- to eight- to 12- to 20-storey buildings in the village heart. Surrounding residential streets may see buildings of six to eight storeys as the preferred heights. If there is social housing, there is no limit – it may go higher. There is no binding consultation. There are sweeping changes. I recently spoke with an owner of the local fish and chip shop on South Parade, which has served the community for over a decade. They told me that once this plan is put into place, they will be forced to leave and will be out of business. The sentiment is shared by many. At the Blackburn market I heard the same concerns from new Australians who had moved here because of the neighbourhood’s village-like character and surrounding suburbs.

We are going to lose massive amounts of tree canopy and local treasured assets like the Blackburn Lake Sanctuary – their ecosystem will be under threat and overshadowed. Please do not let the pursuit of windfall gains tax override the will of everyday Blackburn residents. I urge the government to rethink their approach. I stand with the people of Blackburn in saving Blackburn.