Hamton JV Plots Triple Towers at Moonee Valley Park

A planning application for three apartment towers would move Hamton’s long-running Moonee Valley Park redevelopment into its most ambitious phase yet.

Under the scheme, 512 homes are proposed for the racecourse precinct’s north-east corner at Moonee Ponds.

Hamton Hostplus JVMV has filed the application for the residential project, worth more than $400 million, with the state planning minister under Clause 53.23 of the planning scheme.

The development site is 6km north-west of the Melbourne CBD at 110 Wilson Street.

Described by Rothelowman Melbourne principal Chris Hayton as a masterplan shaped by the character of the surrounding suburb, Moonee Valley Park is a $3-billion joint-venture between Hamton, Hostplus and the Moonee Valley Racing Club to transform the 40ha racecourse site into a masterplanned residential community.

Under way since 2017, the broader project is expected to deliver about 2000 homes across multiple precincts. Five stages had been completed totalling 479 homes.

Designed by DKO Architects, the three buildings within the North-East Precinct would vary in height and scale.

Wilson East would rise 16 storeys and deliver 158 apartments dedicated entirely to affordable housing. Track East would reach 23 storeys with 189 apartments and Track Central would comprise 21 storeys and 165 homes.

At least 20 per cent of the homes would be designated as affordable housing. Development would proceed in three stages, with Wilson East first.

Sustainability targets include five-star Green Star certification and an average NatHERS rating of 7.5 stars.

▲ The Wilson East building (right) would be dedicated entirely to affordable housing under the proposal.

The application describes the architectural vision as centring on “buildings in a botanical park setting that champions the important role of nature” with landscape and environmentally sustainable design principles shaping the overall response.

“The proposal incorporates principles of biophilic design, with landscape and environmentally sustainable development influencing the ultimate design response of the buildings and prioritising the ground plane to ensure a high amenity for both occupants and visitors,” the planning submission said.

Central to the scheme is the Nature Based Cities (NBC) initiative, the not-for-profit, private sector initiative seeking to encourage property developments in inner and middle ring suburbs “to incorporate more existing trees, new canopy trees, living landscapes and green open space”.

Canopy tree cover is projected to reach 29 per cent of the site area, exceeding the 20 per cent requirement.

Vertical greening, rooftop communal spaces, and more than 1066sq m of ground-level outdoor areas are also proposed.

Hamton founder Paul Hameister told The Urban Developer the nature-based design approach at Moonee Valley Park was delivering strong commercial results.

“We’ve been achieving huge premiums relative to the local market, and we’ve been selling 10 apartments a month for the last two years in that project,” he said.

Basement parking would provide 518 car spaces across the three buildings, alongside 523 bicycle spaces. According to the application, 54 per cent of apartments would meet accessibility requirements and 45 per cent would be cross-ventilated.

Tract Consultants is the landscape consultant; ARK Resources is managing sustainability aspects and UrbanXchange is listed as the affordable housing advisory.

Moonee Valley City Council has set a target of 47,500 new homes by 2051 under Victoria’s Housing Statement.

The application argues that “the status quo is not an option in responding to the current housing crisis” and that there is a need to unlock land “within existing middle ring suburbs, where infrastructure and community services already exist”.

The Rothelowman and Carr-designed Trackside House, a 205-apartment project overlooking the racecourse’s final straight, was completed late last year.