Gerald Lynch
Unrest has grown among Broadmeadows residents after learning that one of its only “clean, green spaces” has been sold to Metricon, which plans to build 65 small residential dwellings on the 2.2 hectare site.
A former primary school site off Nicholas Street is an area that locals have previously advocated to become a park or public green space.
A promotional Metricon sign was recently placed at the site boasting two-four bedroom properties in a ‘multicultural community’.
Local residents continued to dig for information and they were shocked to learn that the majority of the land had been sold by the state government to Metricon in 2018.
Hume council received the rest of the land, 0.75 hectare, for a neighbourhood park.
A spokesperson for Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said the dwellings being built on this space are important to ensure the public has access to affordable housing.
“Housing is one of the biggest challenges Victorians face – that’s why we’re making sure there is a mix of social, affordable and market housing in established suburbs close to transport, jobs and essential services,” said a spokesperson.
Broadmeadows Progress Association (BPA) member Shahnoor Janjua said she is extremely unhappy with the decision to use the space for residential development.
“My main issue is that there are no clean, green spaces in Broadmeadows for us residents to enjoy,” she said. “It’s really sad and dangerous, especially when you consider that every second house in Broadmeadows is subdivided to have no backyard either.
“My family moved into the suburbs for more space, and I cannot understand why developers are allowed to build slums so far out from the CBD.
“People deserve to live in regular sized homes.”
Ms Janjua said upon finding out that the space had been sold to Metricon, her concerns grew beyond a lack of green space.
“Seventy townhouses to be built in this tiny area… That’s additional dumped rubbish, construction noise, and added congestion us residents will have to deal with,” she said.
Star Weekly has been told the timelines on when the land rights will actually be transferred from the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) remains unclear.
“The development of this former school site will deliver a mix of housing that meets the needs of existing and future Broadmeadows residents. It will deliver 0.75 hectares of new and improved public open space that will connect through to the Meadowlink Linear park,” said a spokesperson.
Metricon was contacted for comment.
