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Key details

Location 
Corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road, Knoxfield

Policy objective
Create a community with a diverse range of new housing, and open spaces, integrated with the surrounding neighbourhood. 

Overview

This site was formerly used as a Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) horticultural research facility.

It was rezoned to a Comprehensive Development Zone (CDZ) in 2018 allowing for the delivery of a residential and mixed-use development to support the growing population of Knox City municipality.


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 include medium density townhouses, detached housing and land lots.

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

The future wetlands

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

Once the habitat wetland is established, the existing dam on the site – sometimes referred to as 'Lake Knox' – will be partially filled in via a staged construction process to allow for development including adittional waterbodies required to treat and retard stormwater run-off.

Development Victoria has a proven track record of delivering enhanced and thriving waterbodies throughout Victoria.

The goal is to deliver a better overall outcome for existing and future residents, and improve the health of local waterways, including Blind Creek.

  • The dam is structurally unsound, and at risk of collapse within two years
  • The current dam does not provide for stormwater treatment and water retardation
  • Untreated stormwater is currently flowing directly into the Blind Creek corridor, and there is a flood risk to the adjacent light industrial area
  • The dam is very deep with steep banks — creating a safety risk making it inaccessible to the public
  • An enhanced habitat for the endangered Blue-Billed duck through targeted planting
  • A diverse environment that will encourage more wildlife to live and visit, and create a safer outdoor area for local residents to enjoy
  • A range of settling, sediment and water retention ponds to treat stormwater, mitigate flooding and protect Blind Creek

Works to deliver the new wetlands will be completed through a staged approach to minimise impacts on local habitat, guided by technical experts. 

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 1800 659 116.

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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

 

  • Construction, subject to approvals

Draft Masterplan


In June 2020 we sought feedback from the community on the draft Masterplan to refine key elements.

The draft Masterplan will facilitate a vibrant new neighbourhood with a diverse range of housing, an improved wetland and generous public open space. The residential area allows for approximately 450 homes that will be designed and built by a number of different builders, providing a diverse range of product for local community living.

Feedback collected from the online survey and from our community workshops is now being considered in the formation of the Masterplan. An engagement report will be published on our website when it is finalised. 

Following this, we will begin preparing our subdivision planning permit application for the project and this is planned to be lodged to Knox City Council in late 2020. We anticipate construction on the project will begin in mid-late 2021 (subject to a range of approvals).

You can still view the engagement material or call 1800 659 116 for more information. 

Read the Winter 2020 Fact Sheet

Next steps

  • Masterplan development -  feedback collected from the third phase of engagement held in mid 2020 will be considered within the Masterplan. 
  • Community Working Group (CWG) - a dedicated CWG has been established and will meet with Development Victoria to help refine key elements of the Masterplan and provide ongoing feedback. 
  • Subdivision lodgement - a subdivision permit to be lodged with Knox City Council in late 2020 subject to a range of approvals.
  • Construction - expected to commence in 2021, following a range of approvals.

Community Engagement update - May 2020

Development Victoria is committed to and values community engagement on our projects.  While our preference where possible is for face to face consultation, we are currently undertaking all engagement activities online. This is consistent with the Victorian Government’s public gathering restrictions in consideration of the safety and well-being of the community and our team. This applies across all Development Victoria projects until further notice.

Community engagement to date

Development Victoria is 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.

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

Community Working Group

Development Victoria 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 CWG provides a forum for local community members during the planning phase of the project by:
  • Helping to inform the design and delivery of the site to ensure the draft Masterplan reflects local views and aspirations.
  • Guide the sustainable management of public open space and proposed wetlands. 
  • Act as a communication channel between the project, the project team, the Community Working Group and the organisations they represent. 
  • Providing information to wider community groups in which the members may represent. 

An Expression of Interest process was held during the second phase of community engagement in June 2020 where we sought the community’s feedback to help refine the draft Masterplan. All nominations were accepted onto the group, and each member agreed to the Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct.

Once the CWG was established, it was agreed that the CWG would participate in a total of five meetings. 

View the draft minutes from each meeting below.

Meeting minutes

The Proposed Wetland

Development Victoria is 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, Development Victoria 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.

Development Victoria 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