Thursday, 28 August 2025

Solomon Heights precinct

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) incorporated the following (1915):

The Solomon Heights subdivision in Sunshine North has been described by former mayor Bruce Lancashire as ‘Melbourne’s worst example of urban blight.’

It certainly is a mess.

The estate is approximately 32 hectares, with 433 privately owned lots, that have remained undeveloped and unserviced since the subdivision was rezoned back in the 1920s.

One of the issues holding up the long-overdue development is the presence of rare grasslands containing federally protected critically endangered species of fauna and flora on the estate. This includes the spiny rice flower, of which only 465 remain. But sadly, these are being pushed to extinction through sheer neglect.

A 2016 proposal to protect these remnant native sites called for a conservation zone to be established at the northern end of the estate so that the southern end could be developed. This would create an unfair situation for the northern landowners as those on the southern side could still retain their land interests and profit from future developments. It needs a large-scale solution that is equitable for all landowners.

Brimbank is the council responsible for the area but has ruled out buying the land for environmental protections.

The council would like to see a process whereby the state government steps in with a plan for the whole area, including plans for equitable distribution of profits from sale of the land.

So the action I seek is for the Minister for Planning to meet with representatives of Brimbank council and the Grassy Plains Network to finally begin the planning process for Solomon Heights.