Thursday, 31 October 2024

Ministers statements: Fitzroy Gasworks redevelopment

Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Development Victoria, Minister for Precincts, Minister for Creative Industries) (14:24): I remember a time when the seat of Richmond had a Labor member of Parliament who knew that their job was delivering for the people of Richmond – not protesting, not dividing the community, but delivering great facilities and great outcomes for that local community. There is no better example of Richard Wynne’s legacy in that electorate than in the Fitzroy Gasworks redevelopment. The Labor government has taken one of the dirtiest sites in the country, remediated that site and produced a wonderful senior secondary campus for local high schools: the Wurun campus, where students are able to come and learn in great facilities; and the Bundha Sports Centre, a wonderful sporting centre with four netball and basketball courts, a futsal court, a gym, a whole range of other facilities – all the bells and whistles. The name ‘Bundha’ was gifted by the Wurundjeri people, by Aunty Gail Smith. It is a wonderful example.

Today, with the Premier, the Minister for Planning and Mr Erdogan from the other place, we announced that 820 new homes will be delivered at that precinct. Twenty per cent of those homes will be affordable, so that means there will be more affordable options for people who want to live in that wonderful area close to transport and close to services, giving people great opportunities. Of that affordable housing, the 20 per cent, there will be social housing, disability housing and a great partnership in one of the parcels of land down there with Nightingale Housing, who do great work. While those opposite – the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens – do everything they can to block and oppose housing, this side of the house gets on and delivers housing because we know that more homes means more opportunities.