Hamton and joint-venture partner Hostplus have been cleared for the next stage of their $3-billion Moonee Valley Park masterplanned community beside the landmark racecourse.
The $323-million stage at 110 Wilson Street, Moonee Ponds will comprise 539 homes across three apartment buildings. Twenty per cent—at least 108—are to be affordable units.
Dubbed Trackside Gardens, the 8475sq m site is at the north-eastern edge of the 40ha racecourse precinct, next to the CityLink motorway.
The approval is another significant step in the transformation of former racecourse land into a high-density residential hub and parkland with commercial and retail space.
Begun in 2011, the Moonee Valley Racing Club's redevelopment of the Moonee Ponds site could ultimately yield 2000 homes.
For the latest approval, designed by DKO Architects with landscape architecture by Tract, three buildings—Wilson East, Track East and Track Central—will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Track East, the tallest, will rise 23 storeys above the former track at 86m, Track Central will comprise 21 storeys at 69.5m, and the 16-storey Wilson East building will stand 62 metres.
With 79,641sq m of gross floor area, the stage will also include 518 basement car spaces and 545 bicycle spots, communal open space and landscaping.
All of the affordable homes will be within Wilson East, which has been revised to increase its yield from 152 to 185 apartments after feedback from the yet-to-be-named community housing provider.
According to the planning assessment report, the changes include a greater proportion of studio and one-bedroom apartments within the tower.
The proposal was assessed under Victoria’s planning scheme, a state-level pathway for major residential developments that include affordable housing.
Trackside Gardens’ proximity to Moonee Ponds town centre, public transport, employment and community infrastructure were key reasons supporting the higher-density outcome.
Three objections were received during the public notification process, raising concerns about visual bulk, neighbourhood character, traffic, parking and amenity impacts.
The assessment found the development could be accommodated subject to design refinements and permit conditions, including measures addressing wind, landscaping, building interfaces and acoustic impacts associated with CityLink.
Trackside Gardens will join other major developments planned for Moonee Valley Park, including an approved mixed-use precinct at Cox Place with almost 1100 apartments across two build-to-rent buildings, two build-to-sell towers, retail, office space, and a hotel overlooking the racetrack.
