VICTORIA’S Allan government has unveiled concept designs for new social housing towers that will replace existing brick buildings in Carlton, taking the next steps of its controversial program to redevelop 44 high-rise public housing towers across Melbourne while a class action remains in limbo.
Residents of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington slated for demolition have taken the government to court, broadly based on the government failing to consider the human rights of the residents when making the decision to demolish the towers. A judge adjourned the case until 2025 over the matter of the production of secret documents.
The-then Daniel Andrews-led government announced last year as part of its Housing Statement it would replace the housing estates, which are home to around 10,000 people ,with new towers that would ultimately be home to 30,000 residents. Of these, 11,000 would be public tenants, and the balance of the dwellings would be a mixture of social and market housing. The government says the program will increase social housing at the sites by at least 10%.
Yesterday, Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Housing Harriet Shing revealed concept designs for the new social homes and community spaces that will replace 60-year-old, 17-storey red brick public housing towers in Carlton, delivered in partnership with the Albanese Government.
“I want families to have decent homes because I want kids to have decent lives. Every Victorian deserves a home near the people they love, close to transport, jobs and services,” Allan said.
The redevelopment will housing stock at this particular site by 26%, with 248 social homes equipped with private balconies in two buildings spanning 16 and 18 storeys planned.
“Renters were directly consulted on the designs through a dedicated community committee. Following this feedback, the designs now include four bedroom and five bedroom homes to accommodate larger families,” the government said.
Other features in the designs that include improved accessibility, reverse-cycle heating and cooling, ceiling fans, a laundry in each apartment, double-glazed windows and modern kitchens.
The homes will also achieve five-star Green Star and seven-star NatHERS ratings.
The site, funded through the Albanese government’s Social Housing Accelerator Program, will also include community spaces, a kitchen garden, communal terrace, and improved shared spaces that link to Station Street Park.
Early demolition works have begun. The next stage of demolition of the vacant 20 Elgin Street and 141 Nicholson Street towers will start early next year, with construction expected to be completed by 2028.
Melbourne’s high-rise public housing towers were constructed after World War II, between the 1950s and 1970s. The government is touting their redevelopment as “the largest urban renewal project in Victoria’s history”.
A report released last month this month by not-for-profit architecture and research firm OFFICE estimated that the government could save hundreds of millions of dollars by refurbishing and expanding existing towers, rather than completely demolishing and rebuilding them to modern standards.
A government media release yesterday said the towers “were built to significantly outdated design standards”.
“They’re reaching the end of their useful lives, and no longer fit for modern living – particularly for young families and Victorians living with a disability.
Residents were moved from the towers in 2022 after a sewerage system failed.
“The towers no longer meet modern standards of living – particularly for families with kids, and Victorians living with a disability. And so while others try to block, we’ll continue to build more homes across Victoria that are bright, modern, secure, connected, and accessible,” Minister for Housing Harriet Shing said.
