VicUrban seeks Maribyrnong masterplan partner

The state government's development arm this week launched an Expression of Interest campaign in which a 128-hectare former Department of Defence site in Maribyrnong would be replaced with a multibillion-dollar housing estate. The staged project is expected to include about 3000 dwellings of which at least 20 per cent would be allocated as public and social housing.

All up, the Maribyrnong redevelopment could take between 15 and 20 years to complete, and may on completion and with a population of more than 6000 warrant a railway station.

In May, a scathing report was tabled in Parliament revealing that more than 120 chemicals, many of them carcinogens, were used at the site, which must be remediated by the Department of Defence before being transferred to VicUrban, expected to take place in about 2013.

VicUrban has given itself until that time to find a Masterplan partner for the project.

Institutional-based developers including Australand, MAB Corporation, Mirvac and Stockland are expected to throw their hats in the ring. Consortiums are also expected to make offers, as was the case for the proposed St Kilda Triangle redevelopment, and for several Docklands sites.

VicUrban has called for EOI submissions to be submitted on November 4.

At 128 hectares, the Maribyrnong site is substantially larger than the last major suburban infill site to hit the Melbourne market: the 56-hectare Austral Bricks facility at Scoresby (and part of Wantirna South).

VicUrban first started negotiations to buy the Maribyrnong land from the Commonwealth government in 2004.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd announced the land would be released for redevelopment during the economic downturn. The parcel sits at the centre of Maribyrnong, the federal seat of unionist Bill Shorten.

Elsewhere in the immediate mid north-west area VicUrban is proposing to rebuild Avondale Heights's former TAFE site on Military Road into a housing development again expected to include a public housing component.

VicUrban is also responsible for replacing the derelict site known for decades as the Niddrie Quarry, in Rachelle Road, East Keilor, with the high-end Valley Lake housing estate, where terrace-style homes on small blocks fetch close to $1 million.

Kings Way landmark

A NEW landmark apartment building is set to form around the busy corner of Kings Way and City Road in Southbank.

Private development giant Central Equity, which forged its reputation in the 1990s building Southbank's first high-density apartment towers, has this week unveiled its Mainpoint skyscraper, which will replace low-rise, rundown buildings, and have a street address of 241 City Road.

Mainpoint will soar 43 levels, putting it about on par in regards to height with the 42-level Royal Domain Tower at 368 St Kilda Road near the Shrine of Remembrance.

While towers of this height were a big deal when proposed five years ago, the state government has significantly moved the (planning) bar north with proposals of about 70 levels now becoming more common in the Southbank area.

The Central Equity site's eastern edge abuts Moray Street, and effectively, the edge of the Kings Way overpass.

Immediately east of the overpass, the City of Melbourne council is seeking to replace the JH Boyd Girls High School with a new village that will be distinguished by a 30-level apartment tower.

Bus site on move

FORMAL plans have been lodged to redevelop the Drivers Bus Lines site at 108-110 Glen Iris Road, Glen Iris.

A spokeswoman for the City of Boroondara said an application has been received to construct a three-level, mixed-use building with five shops and 36 dwellings.

South Yarra-based property consultancy and developer Acdev is believed to have paid about $3 million for the 1703 square metre site after a scheduled auction in May. Jones Lang LaSalle was the marketing agency.

Currently configured as an office, workshop and hardstand display area, the garage has been home to Drivers Bus Lines since about 1940.

The site is surrounded by council-controlled land and so a residential redevelopment would better exploit the more marketable aspects across Ferndale Park, and a walking track connecting the site to Gardiners Creek and the Glen Iris Wetlands.

Sweet chance

THE Chocolate Mill - a business and residence at 5451 Midland Highway in Mount Franklin, just north of Daylesford is for private sale, asking $1.5 million.

Chocolate Mill manufactures between 10,000 and 12,000 Belgian-chocolate based sweets per week. The company trades for 11 months of the year, while the property is also the hub for an online business.

On 6.5 hectares, the complex was recently judged by the RACV as one of Victoria's best tourism experiences.

The commercial component includes a cafe, large kitchen, manufacturing areas and a retail shop. The upstairs residence includes two bedrooms, an open-plan living and dining room and a large north-facing balcony.

Ballarat Real Estate's Colin McIntosh and Allister Morrison are marketing the Chocolate Mill in two parts being the business for $625,000 and the home and residence, on most of the land, for $875,000.

Saint Cloud carve up

SOUTH Yarra's biggest residential land holding will soon be no more, thanks to a decision by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal's to allow the construction of a block of flats in what is now the backyard of the distinctive Saint Cloud estate.

VCAT's decision will result in the slicing and dicing of the 5437 square metre property, at the end of a knoll.

The semi-circular Saint Cloud mansion, with pool, tennis court and garden, is visible from the Monash Freeway, and Alexandra Avenue, east bound just before Como Park.

It's expected the mansion will retain a Kensington Road entrance, while the new 12-unit complex will be accessed via a separate address, at 143 Alexandra Avenue, a street fast being redeveloped as a high-end apartment strip.

RotheLowman principal and lead architect Chris Hayton said the firm's specific design response was pivotal to securing VCAT approval.

"The transition from the escarpment to the [river] bank has a cascading effect, with each level of the building mimicking the natural contour lines across the site," Mr Hayton said. Apartments within the new complex will be priced from $1 million to $2.7 million, with the project anticipated to have an end value of about $10 million.

Union moves fast

THE Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has spent about $9 million on two adjoining Port Melbourne properties that it will convert into a major training centre.

The biggest purchase is of a new office warehouse facility at 1 Wharf Road. The approximate 3000 square metre double-storey, vacant complex, with 52 car parks, was developed by Sarchi Property Developments and sold for $6.4 million, reflecting a rate of $2120 per square metre.

A neighbouring vacant development site measuring 4000 square metres was also snapped up by the union.

Jones Lang LaSalle directors Lincoln Reynolds and Ashley Buller said strong competition for the Wharf Road site in the first week of the campaign saw the building sell prior to a scheduled expression-of-interest closing date.

CFMEU state secretary Bill Oliver said due to the failure of government and business to address the skills shortage, demand for its training was high.

"Port Melbourne is a great location for us and we plan to combine the two sites to create a modern training centre providing members with high risk training in cranes, forklifts and scaffolding."