Traders concerned about plan for eight-storey high-rise

The council’s formal submission to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny noted that local MP Steve Dimopoulos previously said in a 2018 Facebook post that any development next to the train station “must be no more than 3-4 storeys”.

However, Dimopoulos told The Age on Friday his position had shifted as the housing crisis intensified while the prime tract of state-owned land remained vacant.

“If the market feels this is now viable, then let’s go for it,” he said. “If we’re going to go with that height anywhere … right next to sky rail is quite appropriate.”

Patrick Davis, a student who rents nearby, was generally supportive too.

“I believe that giving people places to live is more important than having somewhere to store a car,” he said. “I am, however, concerned about the affordability of these apartments.”

Matt Ablethorpe, the managing director of MAKE Property Group, said the developer had “actively consulted” with nearby residents.

“The subject site is ideally suited for urban renewal,” he said.

Murrumbeena Village Traders Association spokeswoman Ruth Hall said local businesses welcomed more customers, but they had not been consulted and were “very concerned this development will further cut the Murrumbeena Village in half due to its location and the height”.

Hall feared traders would need financial support to survive if major construction shut Neerim Road. She said the parking plans were “grossly insufficient”.

Locals pushed back against another multi-storey apartment building proposed at the Neerim and Murrumbeena Road intersection in 2019 before it was approved in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in August 2022. That development eventually stalled, and the site is listed for sale.

Since then, the Victorian government named Murrumbeena station as one of 50 activity centres around transport hubs earmarked for more homes as Labor tries to increase density in middle-ring suburbs to encourage development of more homes.

The Plan for Victoria strategy release last month also revealed the Allan government wants to slash car parking requirements at new apartments to free-up space.

A Victorian government spokesperson said more homes were needed near jobs, transport hubs and family networks.

“Any proposal will be considered on its merits – as this project is currently under assessment it would be inappropriate to comment further,” they said.

The Department of Transport and Planning has received about 130 submissions and a decision is slated for the middle of the year.

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