The Victorian Government has confirmed the next phase of Australia’s largest urban renewal project, with seven public housing towers across Melbourne’s inner suburbs set to be redeveloped as part of a long-term plan to replace ageing high-rise stock.
Minister for Housing and Building Harriet Shing announced the next stage will focus on towers located across six estates in Albert Park, Flemington, Kensington, North Melbourne, Prahran and St Kilda. The works form part of the broader High-Rise Redevelopment Program, which will see all 44 towers across 39 hectares replaced over time.
The existing buildings are nearing the end of their usable life and fall short of current expectations around noise control, sustainability, energy performance, ventilation, accessibility, private open space and minimum amenity standards. The redevelopment program aims to replace them with modern, accessible and energy-efficient homes designed to support long-term housing needs.
Under the program, housing capacity across the sites will be tripled, with the government stating the new developments are intended to provide stable and secure housing for future generations.
Each household affected by the next round of works will be assigned a dedicated relocations officer to help manage the move and ensure new housing options align with individual needs and preferences. Relocations from the seven towers are scheduled to begin in July this year.
Residents who wish to remain in their local area will be prioritised, with additional support provided to help manage address changes and connections to new services, schools and nearby infrastructure.
As part of the transition, Homes Victoria will introduce the Hand in Hand Community Support Program, a peer-support initiative linking residents who have already relocated with those preparing to move. The program is intended to provide practical guidance, reassurance and shared experience during the relocation process.
Alongside the tower redevelopments, the Labor Government is continuing to build hundreds of new homes across Port Melbourne, South Yarra, Prahran and Flemington, including the Barak Beacon estate, which is due for completion this year.
Work is already underway at high-rise estates in Carlton, Flemington, North Melbourne, South Yarra and Richmond, with demolition progressing at Carlton’s Elgin Towers.
The government says more than 11,300 homes are currently underway or complete across Victoria as part of a $6.3 billion housing investment, with over 5,000 households having already moved into newly built homes.
Minister Shing said the redevelopment was overdue.
“We’re replacing Melbourne’s ageing housing towers with thousands of modern, energy efficient, and affordable homes, because people deserve homes that meet today’s standards,” she said.
“Our high-rise housing towers have reached the end of their useful lives, and replacing them is not a matter of if, but when—acting now gives more Victorians safer, suitable and more affordable homes for decades to come.”
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