Skip to content

Key details

Location 
Corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road, Knoxfield

Policy objective
Housing

Overview

We are creating a vibrant new neighbourhood in Knoxfield, with diverse housing and open recreational spaces for the community to enjoy.

The site at 609-621 Burwood Highway was formerly used as a Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) horticultural research facility. As the Victorian Government’s property developer, we are revitalising the site to deliver much needed housing, open space as well as a mixed use zone which could include such things as retail and other services for the community.

We are also committed to delivering a new vibrant and functioning wetland system on the site to protect and enhance the natural habitat, including that of the endangered Blue-billed Duck. Following a recent safety audit of the site, our contractors will be undertaking upgrade works to the perimeter fencing of the site and installing additional safety signage. Learn more about the wetland.

Following extensive development work and community consultation, we have now lodged permit applications with Knox City Council for the first residential subdivision and the proposed wetland. Subject to a range of approvals, sales and construction are planned to commence in early to mid-2022.

19.2ha project area

10% affordable housing proposed

Delivering new homes and public open spaces

1 mixed use area for small retail & community spaces

Approach

The site will deliver a diverse range of housing options close to jobs, services and transport. Housing will primarily be medium density townhouses with a range of one to four bedrooms.

It will also offer mixed-use development opportunities to benefit local residents, businesses and the wider community.

Play Video

We have a proven track record of delivering enhanced and thriving waterbodies throughout Victoria.

 

Central to the Knoxfield development will be an improved wetland area with an enhanced habitat for the endangered Blue-Billed duck and other local species. Learn more about the wetland. 

Location

The Knoxfield redevelopment is located at the corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road, Knoxfield.

Who to contact about this project

For more information about the project, community events or to provide feedback please contact us at
knoxfield@development.vic.gov.au or phone 03 8317 3400.

Was this page helpful?

Timeline

  • Rezoning — site rezoned to Comprehensive Development Zone (CDZ)
  • Focus groups — four focus groups were held to understand the community’s needs and wants for Knoxfield
  • Initial phase of community engagement

  • Draft master plan developed
  • Community engagement seeking feedback on the draft masterplan
  • Subdivision lodgement
  • Civil construction works, subject to approvals

 

  • Planning application lodgement for subdivision of initial stages and wetland proposal

  • Sales of initial stages, subject to approvals
  • Construction on initial stages, subject to approvals
  • Subdivision lodgement of following stages

Community engagement

We are committed to engaging with the local community, and stakeholders to ensure they're given opportunities to provide valuable feedback.

There has been broad engagement with the local community over the last few years in relation to the development of the Knox Central Structure Plan, the rezoning of the Knoxfield site and Development Victoria's masterplan proposal.

In mid-2019 four focus group sessions were held, followed by pop-up information sessions in late 2019 to help understand views and aspirations for the site.

We also established a community working group (CWG) to play an important role in shaping the new neighbourhood and delivering a great outcome for the site. The minutes from these meetings can be found in the resources tab.

An online survey was also established to gather broader feedback.

The responses and comments collected are now being incorporated into the draft master plan that will guide the future development.

Check out the Community Engagement Design Boards

Focus group key themes

In late June 2019, Development Victoria facilitated four focus groups to explore community views and perceptions of the Knoxfield Development site.

Representing a diverse sample of residents, 48 participants highlighted key themes for consideration in development of the site, including:

  • Impacts on local traffic and parking
  • Effective street design
  • Delivery of a diverse range of housing, reflecting local character
  • Inclusion of public open spaces
  • Focus on sustainability — for example: solar panels, composting and car sharing
  • Support for the wetlands, and a balance between functional outcomes and providing habitat for endangered species

Blue-billed Duck update

9 April 2021 

After receiving reports of Blue-billed Duck breeding at the dam our ecologist, Ecocentric Environmental Consulting, has since visited and pleasingly confirmed the presence of a Blue-billed Duckling on the site. Since commencing undertaking regular assessments of the site in 2014, this is the first recorded evidence of a Blue-billed Duckling at the existing dam.

Our ecologist has continued to monitor the site and has reported that despite the single Blue-billed Duckling, it appears the species does not routinely breed at the existing dam. We will continue to attend the site to monitor the behaviour of the duckling and ensure there are no works being undertaken on site which could impact any potential duck breeding. The full ecological reports are available in the resources tab.


Background on the proposed wetland

It remains our priority to protect and enhance the natural habitat for the endangered Blue-billed Duck. After an assessment of the existing dam, it is evident that there is potential risk of collapse. The proposed wetland design allows us to ensure safe community access to the site and will provide an improved habitat for local fauna.

We are currently in the planning stage for a new mixed-use community in Knoxfield, on the corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road.

During the early planning process, we considered a range of options for the existing purpose-built dam on the site. In developing plans for the dam, we took into consideration its history, environmental values, functional attributes and connection to the community, as well as the safety issues identified with the dam in its current state.

We obtained advice from expert ecologists and hydrologists to review the purpose-built dam and the options available, and asked them to consider community safety, the ecological and environmental contribution of the dam, and other functional attributes required by the development.

The priorities for the site included:

  • The protection and enhancement of the natural habitat, including that of the endangered Blue-billed Duck.
  • The identification of an effective stormwater management solution to reduce the risk of flooding and appropriately treat stormwater to prevent any potential contamination of Blind Creek.
  • Ensuring that any water body on site can be integrated into the overall development and accessible to the community. 
As a result, the expert advice recommended the removal of the unsafe purpose-built dam and the development of a new wetland which would enhance the current flora and fauna and provide an accessible and safe experience for the community.  

In considering the options for the site, Development Victoria was required to meet a range of statutory and regulatory requirements, together with requests from Knox Council, who will ultimately be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and care of the open spaces on site. 

We have now released a fact sheet of this evidence base in support of our decision to develop a new wetland on the site.

Play Video

Knoxfield Wetland Proposal Seminar - September 2020

Development Victoria has released a webinar of the evidence base in support of our decision to develop a new wetland on the Knoxfield site.

The proposed new wetland will enhance the current flora and fauna, address the safety issues of the current purpose-built dam, address stormwater management and provide an accessible and safe experience for the community. 

Learn more about our philosophy and track record on wetlands and water sensitive urban design

Resources

Community working group meeting minutes

Updated on 11 October 2021