Defence site in the firing line
A leaked draft of the government's 2013 Defence white paper, reported by Fairfax Media last week, outlines the possible closure of dozens of Australian military bases.
Thought to be in the firing line are the RAAF Williams base in Laverton and Royal Victorian Regiment depot in Burwood Road, Hawthorn.
Both sites are prime development opportunities, agents and developers say.
The 4200-square-metre Hawthorn depot is on the corner of Drill Street and Burwood Road, a strip that is a hot spot for multistorey apartments catering for students at nearby Swinburne University, CBRE agent Mark Wizel said.
The site, which contains a large tree and barrack buildings, would fetch about $14.7 million depending on heritage, planning and other restrictions, said Mario Nobrega from commercial agents Gorman Kelly. "Burwood Road is moving away from its industrial past and its old warehouses are either being torn down or converted to bulky goods showrooms," he said.
Across the road, a $140 million project with 250 apartments and ground level retail space is under construction.
Another large site nearby is expected to come on the market soon.
Across town in Laverton, the RAAF Williams base is next door to the newly-minted suburb of Williams Landing, itself constructed on the base's former airfield and runways.
A dedicated railway station and Princes Freeway interchange are under construction to connect the area's expected 7000 residents to the city.
The remaining 150 hectares at the base could net the government up to $75 million if sold and might attract developers such as Perth-based firm Cedar Woods.
"It would be logical acquisition for us given our ownership and development of the adjacent Williams Landing development," state manager Nathan Blackburne said.
But defence sites often contain contaminants that require cleaning up which can significantly devalue the land.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The leaked draft flagged dozens of possible base closures, with the RAAF Williams base in Laverton and the Royal Victorian Regiment depot on Burwood Road in Hawthorn specifically named as being in the firing line.
Industry insiders in the article estimate the two sites could boost the government coffers by about $90 million overall — roughly $14.7 million for the small Hawthorn depot and up to about $75 million for the remaining 150 hectares at RAAF Williams in Laverton, depending on constraints.
Both sites are described as prime development opportunities: the Hawthorn depot sits on a 4,200 sqm corner near Swinburne University in a hot spot for multistorey student apartments, and the Laverton site neighbours the large Williams Landing suburb with new transport links and planned infrastructure that support residential development.
The article mentions Perth-based developer Cedar Woods as a potential buyer for the Laverton land, and quotes agents and firms including CBRE (agent Mark Wizel) and commercial agent Gorman Kelly (Mario Nobrega) commenting on values and local market dynamics.
Williams Landing — built on the former RAAF airfield — already has a new suburb next door, and the article notes a dedicated railway station and a Princes Freeway interchange under construction to connect the area's expected 7,000 residents to the city.
The article says site values can vary significantly depending on heritage listings, planning controls and other restrictions — for example, the Hawthorn depot's estimated $14.7 million price depends on heritage, planning and similar limits that could reduce developable area or allowable uses.
Yes. The article warns that defence sites often contain contaminants that require cleanup, and the cost and complexity of remediation can significantly devalue the land or delay development.
Burwood Road is described as shifting away from its industrial past — old warehouses are being torn down or converted to showrooms, a $140 million project with 250 apartments and ground-floor retail is under construction across the road, and another large nearby site is expected to come to market soon, indicating active redevelopment demand.
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