Residents remain in the dark about the future of the former Maribyrnong defence site as years of negotiations between the state and federal governments threaten to collapse.
The state government’s property development agency, Places Victoria, and the federal Defence Department remain in discussions about site remediation and redevelopment of the heavily contaminated site.
Star Weekly reported last December that Planning Minister Matthew Guy was close to pulling the plug on a project to build 3000 new homes on the 128-hectare site after making a “final offer” on its purchase.
The former explosives manufacturing and material testing site is contaminated with heavy metals, hydrocarbons, explosives residues, asbestos, volatile organic compounds and solvents.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said that by walking away, the state government would undo years of work to create a community vision for the area.
Opposition Leader and Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten said he wrote to the federal Defence Minister and Mr Guy seeking further information, and had penned a joint letter with Ms Thomson warning residents that the project may be abandoned “despite the extensive community consultation and a huge amount of work done by local residents”.
Mr Guy’s spokeswoman said the government would still consider a proposal if Places Victoria’s board deemed it viable.
“Until that time, the site remains the responsibility of the federal Department of Defence.”
Places Victoria chief executive Gregory Anderson said the agency remained committed to the site’s redevelopment.
“Places Victoria and the Commonwealth Department of Defence remain in discussions about the arrangements for future handover and development of the site.”
A Defence Department spokesman said the multimillion-dollar remediation works are due to begin in the first half of next year, subject to government approval and funds. Remediation would take three to five years, with community consultation due early next year.
Maribyrnong mayor Grant Miles said the council was keen to see the site redeveloped, but transport issues had to be addressed.
