A “landmark” development promised to rejuvenate the heart of Footscray is languishing, five years after it was announced.
The ‘State Trustees’ 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. The development was announced with great fanfare in 2010.
Then-planning minister Justin Madden said the 1.3-hectare “flagship development” would deliver new residential, commercial and community spaces, cafés and other facilities “in a sophisticated architectural design”.
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, child- care 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 government and under the authority of the planning minister Richard Wynne.
Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach said he was frustrated by the delay in building the project’s accommodation and community elements.
“It’s always a balance on development, but we want to see projects that benefit the community up and running,” he said. “There doesn’t seem much traction on it.”
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.
A Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesman said the government remained in negotiations with developer Grocon over stage two, the accommodation component.
“The development of this stage will need to address changes to the site’s conditions since the previous concept design was prepared,” he said.
“These changes include the new Metro Trains Melbourne substation and reconfiguration of the stage one office building footprint to mitigate wind issues.”
A Public Transport Victoria spokesman said the substation, completed last year, provided power to Footscray train services.
“The final location was based on considerations including proximity to Footscray Junction for efficient train operations and the wider Grocon proposed development,” he said.
Grocon has been contacted for comment.
