Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (10:03): I rise to deliver a brief member’s statement on the development of the old VicRoads building at 60 Denmark Street, near Kew Junction. I recently had the opportunity to visit this site alongside the Minister for Housing and Building and my Southern Metro colleague Mr Batchelor. There were also Boroondara mayor Wes Gault, deputy mayor Shima Ibuki and CEO Phillip Storer representing the local council. We had a productive discussion about the government’s plan for the site, the council’s proposal and the importance of including the views and needs of the local community in the process. This location is currently being developed to build roughly 500 new homes, with at least 10 per cent of them being affordable housing. This is fantastic news for the local community because this is a location which is ideally located for new housing near schools and existing public transport options. Located very close to Kew Junction, this development is also a win for many local businesses in the area, who will benefit from having an influx of new customers moving into Kew. In March and April last year Development Victoria undertook a community engagement and consultation process, inviting locals to have their say about their views on the site’s development. The community feels very strongly about this site and the importance of getting the redevelopment right. This is because it is a historical site, as the former location of the Kew railway station, which first opened in 1887 but sadly closed down after running its last service in 1952. I would like to thank the team from City Circle Group for showing us around the worksite, and I look forward to seeing the development over the coming months.