The stations set for change under VicTrack's development drive

VicTrack's gradual purge of ancillary land is set to encompass a handful of additional stations, as the Government-backed body looks to further facilitate development around its key assets.

The first station to receive development under the Station Precinct Enhancement Program was Glen Waverley, which with development partner Consolidated Properties saw the delivery of the $70m IKON mixed-use project. Completed in late 2013, IKON is still a leading example, winning the national award for ‘Government Leadership’ at the Property Council of Australia’s Innovation and Excellence Awards during 2016.

With Jewell Station's urban renewal underway, which are the next locations that are set to fall into line under VicTrack's development program?

Hampton Train Station has been announced as the next precinct to receive change. VicTrack has entered into a development agreement with Southbank-based developer epc.Pacific and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in order to create a new residential precinct adjacent to Hampton Station.

Set over 7,056sqm, VicTrack have seeded the land in order to "make the area around Hampton Station safer, more vibrant and more accessible, by delivering station precinct improvements funded by an adjoining mixed-use development." New buildings will incorporate social housing units in order to replace units currently onsite which will be demolished for the much larger development.

For its part, epc.Pacific have described the project which fronts Koolkuna Lane as carrying four separate five level buildings that will result in one, two and three bedroom apartments. With a nominal value of $120 million, the Hampton project is in the hands of ARM Architecture and Jam Architects, according to the developer's website.

Having been awarded the development rights for Hampton Station Precinct during 2015, the project has a tentative completion date of 2019.

Initiated by VicTrack, the subsequent approval of a land slither fronting Lynch Street, Hawthorn was sold to APL Developments. It has consequently proceeded to sales with the project having been dubbed Longhouse.

While Lynch Street was a land disposal, VicTrack do have a number of projects in the pipeline.

Essendon, Windsor, West Footscray, Victoria Park, Watsonia, Ringwood and East Richmond are stations that have been bandied around, with some locations seemingly more advanced than others. SMA Projects for instance have secured a land parcel above rail lines leading to Windsor Station that will most likely result in apartments and community facilities.

An announcement regarding West Footscray is also nearing with a VicTrack spokesperson describing the 5,000sqm site as moving closer to reality. Interestingly Maribyrnong City Council recently rejected development of an adjacent West Footscray site, even though Council planners raised no objections to the scheme for some 86 apartments over 7 levels. The project is seen below.

VicTrack will invariably be hoping that its intentions for West Footscray Station and surrounds fare better.