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The maps will be open for community consultation before a final decision is made on heights and boundaries.
This masthead was provided with the draft development maps for 12 activity centres. The government will on Wednesday publish the proposed boundaries for 25 centres, including West Footscray and Tottenham in Melbourne’s west, East Malvern and Tooronga in the east and Brunswick and Coburg in the city’s north.
When Allan first revealed her urban housing plan, with its ambition of building 300,000 homes within 800 metres of transport hubs, she was forced to do so from within the safety of a closed Half Moon Hotel while a well-heeled mob shouted, “Shame, Premier, shame!” from the Church Street footpath.
Angry Brighton residents greet Jacinta Allan in Church Street in November 2024.Credit: Arsineh Houspian
The premier remains undeterred about altering the character of well-established suburbs so that more people can find somewhere to live there. She has promised to be the state leader who puts Millennials into homes.
“We’re making this city fairer for workers and families,” she said in a statement. “Too many people are locked out of suburbs where they want to live – and I’m on their side.
“The same old blockers will be out in force lying about what these plans mean.”
Blocker-in-chief James Newbury, a local MP for Brighton who led the Church Street protesters against Allan’s plans a year ago, was furious at both the timing of the announcement and the details.
The latest information about the proposed activity centres will be released in the middle of a parliamentary sitting week dominated by the introduction of historic treaty legislation and rancorous debate about violent crime.
“Under the cover of a treaty that Victorians didn’t vote for, this premier who Victorians didn’t vote for either and lives 150 kilometres away, has green-lit the towers of up to 16 storeys across Bayside,” Newbury said.
“Jacinta Allan is trashing our suburbs because of her plan to grow Melbourne to the size of London.”
Premier Jacinta Allan and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny.Credit: Jason South
The latest population forecasts published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that Greater Melbourne will be a city of 8 million people by 2050. London is home to nearly 10 million people.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny took aim at Newbury and other opposition MPs railing against the proposed changes. “While we’re opening doors, the Liberals are locking them,” she said.
The Bayside City Council criticised the government’s lack of consultation.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that media outlets have been informed of the Victorian government’s plans for our activity centres before council,” a council spokesman said.
“The minister promised to work collaboratively after the lack of meaningful consultation during the activity centre pilot program. This has clearly not occurred. Council will continue to advocate regarding any government changes that threaten to destroy the suburbs we love.”
Victorian shadow treasurer and Brighton MP James Newbury is leading the Bayside revolt against high-density development.Credit: Penny Stephens
The Victorian government first revealed in September 2023 its plans to create 10 pilot activity centres where higher-density living would be encouraged as part of a pledge to build 800,000 homes over 10 years. The long- anticipated housing statement was Daniel Andrews’ last major announcement before he quit as premier.
Allan doubled down on that policy a year later, announcing 50 further locations for activity centres. She tied their locations to areas that had good public transport and benefited from Big Build projects such as level-crossing removals and the Metro Tunnel.
Carnegie, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena and Oakleigh are all stops on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines, which have been promised more frequent services once the Metro Tunnel starts taking trains and unlocks capacity on existing lines.
Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Tottenham will also benefit from more services once the tunnel opens about the end of this year.
The maps were informed by public consultation over each of the locations and may be amended to new heights and boundaries following further consultation.
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