A former quarry and unregulated landfill in Melbourne’s southeast has been rezoned for 1,100 homes after a decade-long planning battle. Victorian planning minister Sonya Kilkenny approved the changes for Talbot Village, an 18.8-hectare site acquired by Sterling Global in 2010.
The site, located at 1221-1249 Centre Road in Oakleigh South, has been unused for over 30 years. Kilkenny stated that the project will create a new neighborhood with open space and community facilities.
Planning and Development Details
The development plans, designed by Hatch, Tract, and Urbis, include apartments, terraces, and townhouses across five precincts. A village center will feature shops, cafes, childcare, and a kindergarten. Mixed-use apartment buildings of four to six storeys will be located at the center, while apartments and terraces of three to six storeys will front Huntingdale Road.
The project includes 2.87 hectares of open space, featuring a wetland, civic square, and local parks. Access will be provided through new intersections on Huntingdale Road and Centre Road. Ten percent of the homes will be designated as affordable housing.
Environmental and Remediation Challenges
The site was used for sand quarrying from the 1950s to the 1990s and as an unregulated landfill from the 1970s until 1992. The main environmental risks include methane from buried waste and settlement of soft fill. An advisory committee report concluded that the land could be remediated and developed, but the process could take up to nine years.
The committee identified deficiencies in the amendment and development plan, recommending limitations on basements and a single entity to manage the central area with the highest landfill gas risk.
Community and Future Prospects
Sterling Global director Brandon Yeoh emphasized the project’s focus on creating a foundation for community engagement. The development is subject to further planning permits and approvals.
In a separate project, Sterling Global is redeveloping 623 Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD. The $610 million project, a 42-storey tower with 320 homes, is set for completion in the fourth quarter of 2029.