Thank you for providing feedback on the proposed lease of council land at 44-60 Curzon, North Melbourne and 325-341 Victoria Street, West Melbourne for affordable housing.
We are currently working through the consultation results to inform Council’s decision. We will keep you informed as we progress.
The City of Melbourne is proposing to lease two Council-owned sites in North and West Melbourne for affordable housing and we want your feedback.
Every Melburnian deserves a safe place to call home and projects like these will increase the supply of affordable housing in the City of Melbourne.
Council committed to leasing Council-owned sites in our Affordable Housing Strategy 2020-2030, and these sites at Curzon and Victoria streets have been identified as preferred locations.
While both sites are currently being used as public car parks, a parking analysis has shown sufficient parking is available nearby with 4,200 unoccupied parking spaces available in the broader North Melbourne West Melbourne area.
The city has a shortfall of at least 6000 affordable rental homes and if we do nothing this will quadruple to more than 23,000 by 2036.
Affordable housing helps support people on low incomes by providing high-quality housing at below the market rate – enhancing liveability in our city, the diversity of our community and the productivity of our economy.
Locations proposed
- 44 – 60 Curzon Street, North Melbourne
- 325 – 341 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
Have your say
Share your thoughts on this proposal by 30 May 2024:
- complete an online survey
- register for an online information session
- attend a drop-in session at the North Melbourne Library
Drop in sessions
Tuesday 14 May, 6.00pm to 8.00pm: North Melbourne Library, Hotham Room
Thursday 23 May, 7.00pm to 9.00pm: North Melbourne Library, Hotham Room
Monday 27 May, 5.30pm to 7.00pm: North Melbourne Library, Hotham Room (this session is targeted towards traders and small business owners, but all are welcome to attend)
To ensure we have a suitable venue, please register to attend.
Online sessions
Wednesday 15 May, 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Tuesday 21 May, 6.00pm to 8.00pm
A link with details of the online session will be sent to your email address after you register to attend.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Council proposing?
- What is the motivation for this project/why is this needed?
- What would the developments look like?
- What will it cost and who will fund it?
- What is the timeline for consultation?
- What is the timeline for a potential development?
- How will the community be consulted?
- What is affordable housing? How is it different from social housing and public housing?
- What are the benefits of affordable housing?
- I use the car park, where can I park my car now?
- What has City of Melbourne already heard from the community?
- Why are these sites appropriate for affordable housing?
- Is an affordable housing project consistent with Council Strategy?
- How can people get involved in the engagement process?
Timeline
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Timeline item 1 - complete
Council adopted the Affordable Housing Strategy and committed to finding a suitable site for a pilot project
Late 2020
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Timeline item 2 - complete
Council undertook a review of Council-owned land that might be suitable for an affordable housing project
2021
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Timeline item 3 - complete
Desktop planning, policy review and preliminary car parking utilisation study to assess site suitability for an affordable housing project
Early 2022
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Timeline item 4 - complete
Community Engagement to inform early investigations at Curzon Street site
4 April to 15 May 2022
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Timeline item 5 - complete
Additional site investigations for Curzon Street and Victoria Street sites
Mid 2023
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Timeline item 6 - complete
Council endorses community consultation on opportunities for Curzon Street and Victoria Street sites for affordable housing
30 April 2024
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Timeline item 7 - active
Community consultation on proposal to lease these sites for the purpose of affordable housing
May 2024
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Timeline item 8 - incomplete
Council decision on whether to lease these sites for the purpose of affordable housing
June 2024
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Timeline item 9 - incomplete
Process to select Affordable Housing provider to develop and manage sites (pending Council decision)
To be determined later in 2024
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Timeline item 10 - incomplete
Planning Permit Application
To be determined later in 2024 - 2025
Community consultation 2022
Feedback we heard on Investigating Affordable Housing at Curzon Street.