Murrumbeena Scheme Wins Minister’s Backing

The Victorian planning minister has used her powers to approve a housing project south-east of the capital.

MAKE Property’s eight-storey project was approved for the Murrumbeena Activity Centre at the suburb 13km south-east of the Melbourne CBD, 

The project plans were part of an amendment to the City of Glen Eira’s Planning Scheme that also allowed rezoning of the site to Commercial Zoning 1.

The project designed by Fieldwork and MALA is planned for Allotment 2012 East of Elsternwick, 2376sq m of surplus land hived off land associated with the Murrumbeena Train Station as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP). 

Murrumbeena’s train station was raised in 2018 as part f the LXRP, which elevates or buries Melbourne suburban train stations to remove level crossings for safer traffic flow.

MAKE’s plans for the site include 110 apartments (10 per cent of which will be affordable), an 800sq m supermarket and three retail spaces.

Two basement levels with 86 carparking bays and 128 bicycle storage spots are also included.

The project will front Neerim Road and have two walkways through to the train station. 

Industry database BCI estimates the project value at $50 million. 

▲ A rendering of the Murrumbeena project.

MAKE filed the project with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning through its Development Facilitation Program (DFP) in November of 2022.

It then went to community consultation from January 31 to February 28 through Engage Victoria.

“The submissions received raised issues generally relating to building form and urban design including height and mass, open space and community infrastructure, traffic impacts including lack of carparking and loss of commuter carparking and construction related impacts,” the minister’s explanatory note said.

“A number of submissions were received in support of the amendment.” 

The City of Glen Eira Council’s submission to the DTP was that there was insufficient time and information to report back on the proposed project and planning scheme amendment. 

The council sent its submission to the DTP on February 28.

The Victorian Government’s Housing Statement, released in 2023, championed the creation of Activity Centres to allow medium and high-density housing around transport nodes and hubs.