Zoning changes that would have given the green light for four-storey buildings across West Footscray and Maidstone have been shelved.
The move refines Maribyrnong Planning Scheme Amendment C150 and rejects higher-density housing proposed by a committee appointed by former state planning minister Matthew Guy.
This would have rezoned vast swathes of West Footscray and Maidstone to allow higher-density housing “up to and including four-storey buildings”, covering lan0d between Barkly Street and the railway line, as well as properties west of Elphinston Street as far as Ashley Street. In Maidstone, the zone would have applied to most properties between Ballarat Road and Hargreaves Crescent.
All councils were forced to change residential zones when Mr Guy threw them out in 2013 to encourage higher-density housing developments.
But last Thursday, Planning Minister Richard Wynne approved a less intensive general residential zone and introduced a neighbourhood residential zone, which gives even more protection and caps at just two storeys protected pockets of Maribyrnong, Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville and Kingsville.
Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach said the overturn takes “a more conservative approach”.
New zoning details are at www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au.
