OCTOBER 7, 2015 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WESTâS BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Prestige project âstuckâ A âlandmarkâ development promised to rejuvenate the heart of Footscray is languishing, five years after it was announced. The âState Trusteesâ office building at 1 McNab Avenue is the only structure built as part of the three-stage, $350 million McNab Avenue development adjacent to Footscray station. It was opened with great fanfare in 2010. Then-planning minister Justin Madden said the 1.3-hectare âflagship developmentâ would deliver new residential, commercial and community spaces, cafĂŠs and other facilities âin a sophisticated architectural designâ. The project, due to have been finished last year, was supposed to include 250 student dwellings, 240 apartments and 110 affordable housing units, as well as a gym, childcare centre and community hub with gallery space and community garden. Yet five years on there is no sign of the second or third stages at the site, owned by the state governmentâs property development agency Places Victoria (PV). PV also owns the prime former Binks Ford site north-east of Footscray railway station, another stalled redevelopment. And it recently offloaded a site on Hopkins Street in the Josephs Road precinct at a financial loss. Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach said he was frustrated by the delay in building the projectâs accommodation and community elements. âItâs always a balance on
ââ
We want to see projects that benefit [us] up and running
ââ
- Nam Quach A Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesman said the government remained in negotiations with developer Grocon over stage two, the accommodation component. âThe development of this stage will need to address changes to the siteâs conditions since the previous concept design was prepared,â he said. âThese changes include the new Metro Trains Melbourne substation and reconfiguration of the stage one office building footprint to mitigate wind issues.â A Public Transport Victoria spokesman said the substation, completed last year, provided power to Footscray train services. âThe final location was based on considerations including proximity to Footscray Junction for efficient train operations and the wider Grocon proposed development,â he said. Grocon has been contacted for comment.
VIL KLUN AND JESS ENACHE
Say cheese, again Williamstown will this month host the second Wine and Cheese Fest at Seaworks, with more than 60 vendors expected. Organiser Vil Klun said most of the exhibitors were from Victoria but some were coming from interstate. âWe have expanded quite a bit in terms of the offering,â he said. âLast year was the first year so we werenât quite sure what to expect. But once we knew what the potential was we made sure we secured quite a lot of vendors ... Melbourne is a festival-type of city . . . so we sort of found our little niche.â The festival, which features a âgrape stomp compâ, is on Sunday, October 25 from 11am-6pm. Tickets are capped at 5000 and start from $23. Details: www. wineandcheesefest.com.au Goya Dmytryshchak
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development, but we want to see projects that benefit the community up and running,â he said. âThere doesnât seem much traction on it.â Delays in stages two and three have been exacerbated by the recent construction of a large railway substation adjoining a key part of the site.
(Joe Mastroianni)
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