The Radio Australia site — which, at 226 hectares, is bigger than Kialla Lakes — could potentially offer 2500 residential lots, according to Shepparton-based developer Michael Lewis of Development Edge, the company behind the Goulburn Valley’s Seven Creeks Estate, Sanctuary Park and The Vines.
The Victorian Government has identified the Shepparton North site as one of the first seven sites that will be assessed through its Unlocking Strategic Sites program.
The program fast-tracks the rezoning of underutilised land, such as former industrial land, golf courses, race tracks and surplus university sites, to build new homes and job precincts quicker.
Rezoning land through councils can take two or more years; however, this program aims to halve that time.
Mr Lewis said the land on Verney Rd was nominated as a future residential site just before it was purchased in 2019, and that a lot of work had gone in to start the project, progressing the rezoning process with Greater Shepparton City Council already.
Council’s 2050 plan report indicated, “It will remain in the Farming Zone until land supply needs indicate a requirement for the provision of additional residential land," but Mr Lewis said the report was written almost 10 years ago and was now outdated.
He confirmed The Vines estate had sold out and that there were only “a couple of blocks left” in the Seven Creeks Estate development.
Development Edge has until June 30 to submit its documents to be considered for the Unlocking Strategic Sites program.
If approved, it will be all systems go.
“It could be rezoned later this year if they decide they will,” Mr Lewis said.
He said Development Edge envisaged a mix of opportunities to build business, growth in employment and housing, as well as a lifestyle community.
An assessment to determine whether the site needs a school, kinder and other specific infrastructure is currently being undertaken, while the company is also working with a heritage consultant to determine how best to celebrate the history on site.
Mr Lewis said the land was not in a flood or bushfire zone and was under a single ownership, all factors that he believed should make the site an appealing option for fast-tracking.
Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny made the announcement identifying the sites — at Shepparton, Kilmore, Bendigo, Bundoora, Wodonga West, Burwood and Preston — on April 12, estimating that they could deliver around 9155 homes and 8900 jobs across the state between them.
“We’re unlocking land that’s been sitting idle for years and turning it into more homes and jobs,” Ms Kilkenny said.
“If land is ready for housing, it shouldn’t be stuck waiting to be rezoned — we are cutting red tape to get more homes built sooner and where we need them most.”
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said council was currently updating its housing supply and demand analysis, which would “further inform future growth”.
“As our region continues to grow, so too does the demand for housing in Greater Shepparton,” Cr Sali said.
“The Radio Australia site represents a strategic opportunity to complement housing supply and diversity in the region.”
Every project in the Unlocking Strategic Sites program will be subject to planning assessment and community consultation and will require a minimum of 10 per cent affordable housing, which Mr Lewis said the proposed lifestyle community within the estate would account for at the Shepparton site.
The new pathway will be delivered through the Development Facilitation Program as part of the government’s Economic Growth Statement, which aims to drive investment, create jobs and support key sectors.
