Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:48): I would like to use this opportunity to talk about my recent visit to the Fitzroy Gasworks precinct, where we broke ground on the next stage of this landmark project. The precinct will deliver 1400 new homes alongside green open space and community infrastructure. At the corner of Alexandra Parade and Smith Street, parcel B is the first site to be developed. It will deliver 513 build-to-rent homes, including 121 social homes and 45 affordable homes. It will also include rooftop gardens, coworking places, event spaces, cafes and a gym. This project is being delivered in partnership with the Commonwealth Labor government and Housing Choices Australia, with construction expected to finish in 2028.

Of course there is work already underway on this site. There is – both completed – Australia’s first vertical multi-use sports centre alongside the Wurun Senior Campus. When finished, the precinct will include more than 1000 bicycle spaces, public parking and improved local amenity. This is what good precinct planning looks like. It joins housing services, jobs and infrastructure to make life easier and more affordable for Victorians. We were joined by local resident and councillor Sarah McKenzie, who explained that it is only projects such as these that mean she will be able to afford to raise a family in the area she grew up in.

You do not make housing more affordable by building fewer homes; you do it by building well and building more. Those opposite want to block that progress. We have got the Greens local member spending her time fighting this project. The Liberals want to cut 300,000 homes and hand back power to some of those council blockers. It is only the Labor government that is getting on and delivering homes, jobs and communities for our growing state.