By Deanne Jeffers
A major housing development in North Shepparton will be fast-tracked under a new initiative aimed at unlocking underutilised land and accelerating the delivery of new homes and jobs precincts.
Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny recently announced the former Radio Australia site as one of seven locations selected under the ‘Unlocking Strategic Sites’ program, which will deliver about 9,155 homes and 8,900 jobs across Victoria.
The program targets former industrial sites and surplus land, streamlining what is typically a lengthy rezoning process. Currently council-led rezoning can take two years or more, but the new initiative aims to significantly shorten that timeframe.
The 256-hectare Radio Australia site was purchased by Development Edge in 2019 and was being identified for future residential use under the Greater Shepparton City Council’s long-term blueprint, the ‘Shepparton & Mooroopna 2050 – Regional City Growth Plan’.
Development Edge Director Michael Lewis said the site’s inclusion was a positive step forward, though significant work remains before construction can begin.
“There’s a fair bit of work ahead,” he said, pointing to ongoing assessments around infrastructure requirements, housing yield and planning considerations.
Mr Lewis said the development will deliver several thousand homes, including a diverse mix of housing types and a mandated 10 per cent allocation for high-quality affordable housing. Plans could also include community infrastructure such as schools, along with a portion of business employment light industrial land to generate long-term job opportunities.
“We believe that it will make a really positive contribution to Shepparton, both in terms of providing more housing and employment opportunities for the region,” he said.
The project will provide both immediate construction jobs and ongoing opportunities, addressing what Mr Lewis described as a shortage of available development-ready land in Greater Shepparton.
“It’s important that it comes online sooner rather than later because there is a shortfall of land for development in Greater Shepparton,” he said, with most current residential estates in their final stages.
While the site has been selected under the program, Mr Lewis stressed the development would still undergo standard planning and rezoning requirements.
“There are no shortcuts to the planning process,” he said. “But being identified as a priority site means the rezoning process can be significantly faster, potentially cutting the time to secure planning permits in half.”
Rezoning documentation will be submitted to the State Government by the end of June, with hopes that permits could be secured soon after, allowing works to begin in relatively short order.
Currently, the site is used for farming, with existing buildings occupied by a small business. The site also carries historical significance as the former home of Radio Australia, and Mr Lewis said preserving and recognising that heritage is a key consideration.
“We do respect the heritage that exists and we are looking for ways to celebrate that history,” he said. “We will find some way to honour this heritage.”
Development Edge is currently working with a heritage consultant and Council to explore options, which may include retaining some of the existing buildings and infrastructure, where feasible and safe.
Mr Lewis also acknowledged the role of Greater Shepparton City Council in progressing the project.
“The council has been excellent through the whole process,” he said. “They obviously see the need for new land, and it is a credit to them for supporting the project and helping it get to this point.”
Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, said, “As our region continues to grow, so too does the demand for housing in Greater Shepparton. The Radio Australia site represents a strategic opportunity to complement housing supply and diversity in the region.
“Council is currently updating its housing supply and demand analysis, which will further inform future growth. Council will continue to engage with relevant authorities as the planning assessment progresses.
Cr Sali said that any proposal for the site remains subject to the Victorian planning assessment process.
