Maribyrnong council has moved to quash fears about the rapid redevelopment of a new ‘town centre’ near Highpoint shopping centre.
Star Weekly last week reported the council wants to rezone industrial and commercial land around Highpoint to expand the shopping centre and build about 2500 new apartments based on estimated development demand to the year 2045.
Amendment C135 proposes a new town centre with a mixed retail, bulky goods and residential precinct for Rosamond Road.
Council chief executive Stephen Wall said the figures were estimates and not current applications before the council.
“They are, instead, a 30-year economic estimate of what demand for space may exist for the entire area in the future,” he said.
“These changes are yet to be adopted by council.”
An independent panel is preparing a report on the C135 proposal, which will be considered by the council before passing to the minister for final consideration.
Mr Wall said the council had nominated its preferred building height range for the Highpoint precinct of between three and 10 storeys to balance development and neighbourhood character.
Height limits have already been criticised by developers, who want closer to 20 storeys in some places.
