Key details
Location
433 Smith Street, Fitzroy
Policy objective
Create an urban village that includes new housing, community facilities, and open space.
Overview
We’re transforming the site of the former Fitzroy Gasworks into a thriving new precinct, with a range of affordable and sustainable homes, leading sports and education facilities, and public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Fitzroy Gasworks will set a new benchmark for urban renewal and affordable and sustainable living in one of Melbourne’s most historic and established suburbs.
Development plan
A development plan to guide the vision for the site has been prepared and submitted for approval by the Minister for Planning, following extensive community and stakeholder consultation.
The development plan is based on detailed planning work and valuable input from the community. It ensures any future development complies with the vision for the site, once approved. This provides certainty about the nature of the proposed use and development to the community, stakeholders and the Minister for Planning, including building heights and open space requirements.
Development partners Registration of Interest
A Registration of Interest (ROI) process was open for four weeks for development partners to help shape the future of this iconic site. This has now closed and we are reviewing the responses.
3.9ha project area
20% affordable housing
1,200 new apartments
8% public open space
Key outcomes
Fitzroy Gasworks will be a new neighbourhood with the works:
- 1,200 apartments at different price points, to own or rent
- A 650-student senior high school - now open
- A new multi-use sports centre
- Underground car parking and aboveground bicycle parking
- Flexible spaces at ground level, to accommodate Disability Accommodation (SDA), and commercial, office and community uses
- 8% of the site as public open space, with additional communal open space within the residential developments
- Retention of the Valve House and relocation and restoration of the Porter Iron Store (subject to approval by Heritage Victoria)
- New accessible tram stop on Smith Street and pedestrian crossing on Queens Parade to make it easier and safer to access the precinct
Approach
The rejuvenation of the former Fitzroy Gasworks will transform an iconic urban site into an integrated, sustainable and thriving urban village.
Fitzroy Gasworks is a whole-of-government approach to urban renewal, delivered by Development Victoria in partnership with the public and private sector.
The vision for the project has been shaped by extensive consultation, to reflect the heritage of the site and the needs of the community.
Timeline
- Community engagement – vision
- Community reference group formed
- Start of remediation
- Rezoning
- Community engagement – Victorian School Building Authority
- Community engagement – collaborative design
- Development plan exhibition
- School complete and open for students
- Development plan submission
- Precincts B and C Registration of Interest
- Precincts B and C expressions of interest
- Remediation complete
- Fitzroy sports centre construction commences
- Precincts B and C request for proposal
- Precincts B and C development partner selection
- Mixed-use development construction begins
Location
The site is bordered by Smith Street, Alexandra Parade and Queens Parade, and has an area of 3.9ha.
It's surrounded by the suburbs of Fitzroy, Clifton Hill, and Collingwood.
Who to contact about this project
For more information about the remediation process visit:
Enviropacific
Or call the dedicated project number:
1800 560 822
Development Victoria
Customer service
Ph: 131 852
fitzroy.gasworks@development.vic.gov.au
Media
Ph: 03 8317 3700
media@development.vic.gov.au
City of Yarra
Ph: 03 9658 9658
After hours: 03 96589774
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Development Plan
The development plan for Fitzroy Gasworks sets out the buildings, landscapes and access arrangement within the site boundary.
Key elements of the plan
- buildings to reflect the local character in terms of built form, materiality and uses.
- a central community heart linking together diverse public spaces with places to play.
- maximise urban greening by introducing trees, ground cover, vertical and roof top vegetation.
- create ground floor uses that showcase a variety of activities and provide activation.
- the plan has achieved a 6-star green star communities rating through the Green Building Council of Australia with a focus on initiatives that:
- maximise potential for energy generation on site, with solar panels to most rooftops
- maximise thermal performance of buildings for lower living costs over time
- minimise waste produced on site, with consolidated collection points.
- targeting 8% public open space with an additional 8% private open space, delivered through laneways and arcades, gateways and urban greening.
- a community garden with 220m2 of agricultural space for the residential community to access.
- delivery of 20% affordable housing.
- a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes.
- a priority on housing that is affordable to rent.
- encourage a variety in building heights up to 10 storeys.
- flexible spaces that may include retail, hospitality, office and coworking spaces, affordable workspaces for creative industries, galleries, grocery stores and gyms.
- restoration of the heritage listed valve house.
- pedestrian-priority neighbourhood with consolidated parking and minimal reliance on private cars.
- high-quality pedestrian and tram links that integrated with the surrounding community.
- a high-quality street at the heart of the precinct for bicycles, pedestrians and vehicle pick up and drop off.
Development Plan
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Fact Sheet PDF, 526.1 kb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Summary PDF, 6.7 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Introduction PDF, 2.4 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 1 PDF, 14.6 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 2 PDF, 3.0 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 3 PDF, 14.3 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 4 PDF, 13.3 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 5 PDF, 16.9 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 6 PDF, 10.9 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 7 PDF, 9.1 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 8 PDF, 12.0 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Chapter 9 PDF, 9.6 mb
- Fitzroy Gasworks - Development Plan Requirements PDF, 280.5 kb
Key projects
Fitzroy Gasworks will be a new neighbourhood with the works – diverse and affordable homes close to public transport, a senior high school, open space, multi-use sports centre and commercial spaces.
Wurun Senior Campus
Wurun Senior Campus, the new senior secondary campus for Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School, is located in the Fitzroy Gasworks precinct.
Delivered by the Victorian School Building Authority, Wurun Senior Campus has capacity for 650 students and opened in Term 1 2022,
Sports Centre
The Fitzroy Gasworks Sports Centre, a multi-purpose indoor sports centre, adjacent to Wurun Senior Campus, is a key element of the Victorian Government’s vision for the Fitzroy Gasworks precinct.
The centre will be the first vertically designed sports centre of its kind to be built in Australia and will provide much-needed sports facilities to Melbourne’s inner north.
Built Environs has been selected as the construction partner, with works expected to commence later in 2022 and be completed in early 2024.
The centre will comprise four multi-purpose courts (sized for basketball and netball) over two levels, a multi-purpose space and gymnasium which will be available for public use.
Its integration with Wurun Senior Campus’ two courts will enable shared use of the courts to create a six-court facility outside of school hours.
Affordable build-to-rent
Many Victorians are looking for a secure, stable, high-quality place to live, but home ownership is out of reach or not suitable for their needs.
Fitzroy Gasworks will include our first ever build-to-rent development, providing affordable, high-quality and secure rental options alongside a range of traditional homes for purchase.
This will give more people with the opportunity to live in an established and well-serviced location and create a vibrant and diverse community.
Our new affordable build-to-rent homes will be purpose designed and built to provide secure, affordable and high-quality rental options for a range of different households, including families, older Victorians and people with disability.
It will be managed by one operator responsible for the whole development, with a focus on amenities to create a strong sense of community. Our affordable build-to-rent development aims to offer a real sense of home - long term tenancies, pets, minor modifications such as painting the walls and hanging pictures.
What sets our build-to-rent homes apart from other projects in the market is a focus on affordability and accessibility for people on lower incomes.
Our masterplan for Fitzroy Gasworks has also been awarded a 6-Star Green Star Communities rating, with our affordable built-to-rent development set to be all-electric and fossil fuel free. There will be no gas or combustion fuels (wood fires, coal fires) within this building.
Overview of remediation
Remediation deals with the removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental sources such as soil, groundwater, sediment or surface water.
The site is contaminated due to its former use as a gasworks, and is subject to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Up Order.
The removal of contaminated soil is required to deliver a cleaner, safer environment for the people of Fitzroy North and future users of the proposed site. The Department of Treasury and Finance has appointed Enviropacific link to manage remediation of the contaminated Fitzroy Gasworks land. If you have a question about the remediation process, you can email the Enviropacific team.
FAQ
Phase 1 remediation work began in 2018, including further investigation of the soil and the preparation of the site’s remediation action plan.
Phase 2 works began in April 2019 and is expected to be completed in 2022. This involves the excavation of contaminated material down to a depth of 10 metres. The materials will then be removed off-site to an approved processing facility.
Due to the extent of contamination on site, trees will be removed as part of the remediation works to satisfy the requirements of the EPA clean-up notice.
To mitigate the loss of the existing vegetation, Development Victoria is committed to replacing trees on a minimum one-to-one basis.
Remediation activities have been carefully planned to minimise noise and other disruptions.
The main sources of noise are likely to be truck movements to and from site, demolition, pilling and concrete breaking.
Noise and acoustic controls will be established in accordance with the approved Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). All activities will be completed in accordance with Council and EPA regulations. Noise baffles and other protection for equipment will be used during the remediation.
Building a community in the heart of Fitzroy
Development Victoria has worked with Fitzroy community members to identify local priorities and aspirations, and plans to address these as part of the development.
Between 2016 and 2017, the community provided input on: school and sports facilities, social housing, open space, community art, height and density, traffic, parking, and the heritage of the site.
In October 2019, community feedback was provided for the draft Development Plan via an online survey, pop-up information sessions, and two drop-in sessions.
The project team incorporated this feedback into the development plan, which was presented back to the community ahead of the formal submission.
A Community Reference Group (CRG) was established with 18 members representing the broader community. The CRG will continue to meet on an ongoing basis during the next phase of the project.
Supporting documents used during the October 2019 engagement sessions include the project fact sheet and design boards.
Fitzroy Gasworks Community Engagement
October 2019History
Fitzroy Gasworks is located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
The former gasworks on the site was established in 1860 and became an integral part of Melbourne’s gas infrastructure.
Gas production ceased in 1927, with the site remaining operational as a construction workshop and as a gas storage point until the 1970s.
Heritage assets
There is a Heritage Overlay on the former Fitzroy Gasworks Valve House, located in the south-west corner of the site.
The Valve House will be retained as a significant heritage element. Options for its re-use were considered as part of the community engagement in October 2019.
The J. H. Porter Iron Store formerly located on the Council depot site is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as being of State significance.
The Heritage Overlay is only applicable for the asset, and not the land it sits on. A heritage permit was issued by Heritage Victoria for Development Victoria to carefully restore and relocate the J. H. Porter Iron Store to Fairfield Park.
Updated on 08 June 2022