Department of Health and Human Services Victoria | Preston – Stokes/Penola Streets and Oakover Road

Delivering a vibrant future for and communities, the sites at Stokes/Penola Streets and Oakover Road, Preston are 9km from the CBD in the City of Darebin.

About the project

The Victorian Government is joining with development partner MAB Corporation, and registered housing association HousingFirst, to redevelop the Preston sites to provide social, affordable and private housing dwellings.

The redevelopment sites at Preston will offer increased housing opportunities for more Victorians than ever before, with a range of new and improved housing dwellings. The sites are close to schools, transport, employment opportunities, shopping and the central business district of Melbourne city.

Currently there are 26 dwellings on the Oakover Road site that are no longer suitable for the current needs of Victoria’s social housing tenants and families. The Stokes/Penola site is vacant land.

The aged dwellings will be replaced by a minimum of 83 new social and about 460 private housing dwellings across the two sites. The private housing component of the redevelopment will help fund the project to establish and grow diverse communities.

The new homes will be modern, accessible, safe, secure and energy efficient, with a 5-star Green Star rating and a 7-star NatHERS average rating.

Benefits of the project include:

New shared open spaces
Buildings that are designed to make the most of the open space and public realm
An artist’s live/work studio
An onsite HousingFirst office to support tenants
Durable, high-quality materials used in public spaces (including furniture, surface materials, lighting, and landscaping) to reflect the history and character of the area
Improved pedestrian connectivity through the sites.

Town planning history

In 2011, Darebin Council commenced a review of land use and built form controls along St Georges Road and in 2013 prepared the St Georges Road Urban Design Framework. The Council then prepared Planning Scheme Amendment C136, which changed the town planning controls for both Preston sites.

On 15 September 2016, the Minister for Planning approved Amendment C136 to the Darebin Planning Scheme. The amendment applied Development Plan Overlay 11 to both sites.

Development partner MAB Corporation is required to prepare a Development Plan for the site and Town Planning Permit Applications consistent with Planning Scheme Amendment C136 and Development Plan Overlay 11.

Demolition

Demolition works are being undertaken in collaboration with contracted demolition specialists.

The health, safety and wellbeing of surrounding residents and site contractors is a high priority for the department, with measures in place to ensure all works are carried out to the highest safety standards.

Contractors will work across the site methodically, ensuring all works cause the least possible disturbance to neighbouring residents and local businesses.

The department will notify renewal site tenants, local residents and businesses as works commence on the site. All demolition works are carried out by adhering to the highest environmental standards to protect public health and safety.

Consultative Committee

Community engagement is an important element of public housing redevelopment. The department has established a Consultative Committee for the renewal of the Preston estate.

The committee is chaired by Kat Theophanous MP – State Member for Northcote.

The committee brings together important community members and representatives of local organisations to provide advice on the redevelopment of the site. It enables ongoing and two-way feedback through participation with the community and the stakeholders.

Members of the committee provide advice and feedback on redevelopment plans and identify local issues and matters of concern as they arise.

Committee members will communicate the progress of the redevelopment back to their communities to support the successful delivery of the project.

Meet the Chair

Kat Theophanous MP tells us about herself and her motivations for chairing the Preston Consultative Committee in her biography:

Community newsletters

The latest community newsletter has updates on the progress of this important redevelopment project in Preston:

Development partner updates

The latest newsletter updates from the Preston site development partner, MAB Corporation:

More information and contact

Project contact: Katrina Preski, Principal Project Manager email: katrina.preski@dhhs.vic.gov.au

To register for project updates or send your questions email: housing.renewal@dhhs.vic.gov.au

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