By Laura Michell
Thousands of houses will be built in three new suburbs near Craigieburn, Mickleham and Donnybrook, in a bid to improve housing affordability.
The state government plans to allow 50,000 new homes to be built in growth areas over the next four years, creating 12 new communities.
Residential land will also be released in Beveridge and Wallan, while an employment precinct will be created at Merrifield North.
The government said the new suburbs will be in corridors that the Victorian Planning Authority has “identified as ripe for more housing”.
The land release will allow Melbourne to maintain a 15-year land supply. It is not known how many lots will be released in each suburb.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the new suburbs would allow residents to work locally and attend school close to home.
“These new communities will be well connected and serviced, with the employment opportunities, parks, schools and transport that will make them terrific places to live,” he said.
Included in the 12 new suburbs will be Craigieburn West, bounded by Mickleham Road to the west, Craigieburn to the east and Greenvale to the south.
The VPA said Craigieburn West would complete the Craigieburn growth front.
Land will also be released at Lindum Vale – a 144-hectare site bound by Mount Ridley Road to the south, Mickleham Road to the west, the Merrifield West PSP area to the north and the Mount Ridley rural residential area to the east.
Shenstone Park – a 614-hectare site bounded by Donnybrook Road to the north, Wollert to the south and the Sydney-Melbourne rail corridor to the west – will also be included.
The Merrifield North employment precinct is expected to support about 13,000 jobs.
MORE GROWTH NEWS:
www.starweekly.com.au/news/super-suburb-for-wollert/
www.starweekly.com.au/news/another-1500-homes-planned-for-hume/
