A state government authority is withdrawing from the development of Aurora Estate in Epping North, putting 410 hectares of the development site on the market.
Places Victoria is selling a total of 645 hectares in Epping North, Craigieburn and Officer, but Aurora Community Association members fear a new developer may not complete the vision for Victoria’s first six-star energy efficient estate.
Although the original plan was for up to 8000 houses, only about 1000 have been built. And of the 410 hectares for sale, 265 hectares are for residential development.
Association president Toni-Marie Wuelfert said residents bought into the estate because it was Places Victoria’s “flagship” with its planned community touted as Australia’s most sustainable, with many environmental initiatives.
She said residents were concerned about whether the buyer would consult the community and build houses and community facilities to the high environmental standards.
The estate was planned as an “environmentally sustainable community” through an agreement between Places Victoria, the Environment Protection Authority, Yarra Valley Water and the City of Whittlesea, she said.
But Places Victoria had told the association the agreement was voluntary and the new developer could withdraw from it “anytime”, Ms Wuelfert said.
Residents were concerned about whether the new developer would carry out works contained in the estate’s master plan, such as the southern town centre.
Places Victoria’s chief executive officer, Peter Seamer, said the authority would complete development in Aurora where residents were already living or where construction was under way – including the northern town centre.
“For the undeveloped land that is to be potentially sold, future development is required to be generally in accordance with the Aurora Development Plan in place at the time,” he said.
“The timing of that future development will depend on a range of factors, including market demand.’’
