THE Baillieu government has approved one of Melbourne's largest inner-city residential developments at the historic Caulfield racetrack, leaving some residents ''bitterly disappointed'' and warning of an infrastructure meltdown, reports The Age. It says: Plans reveal the $1 billion development at the racecourse will include 1200 apartments as well as office and commercial space, with buildings ranging from two to 20 storeys. Flemington and Moonee Valley racecourses are also working on major resi
THE Baillieu government has approved one of Melbourne's largest inner-city residential developments at the historic Caulfield racetrack, leaving some residents ''bitterly disappointed'' and warning of an infrastructure meltdown, reports The Age.
It says: Plans reveal the $1 billion development at the racecourse will include 1200 apartments as well as office and commercial space, with buildings ranging from two to 20 storeys. Flemington and Moonee Valley racecourses are also working on major residential plans.
The Melbourne Racing Club said yesterday the centre of the existing track would be turned into a publicly accessible park with a lake ringed by a boardwalk and fishing spots.
The club says the new development - dubbed ''Caulfield Village'' - will offer a range of housing to young families just seven kilometres from the city centre. But Planning Minister Matthew Guy said yesterday the amount of social housing was yet to be ''factored in''.
''We don't mandate social housing policies in Victoria; we are currently working on some strategies but it will not involve mandation,'' Mr Guy said.
The development has been dogged by controversy, with local councillors Frank Penhalluriack and Sheryl Forge opposed to elements of the plan. (www.theage.com.au)