Burwood Heights is a Major Activity Centre under Plan Melbourne 2017 - 2050, the Victorian Government’s metropolitan planning strategy released in May 2017.
Key sites in the Activity Centre include:
- the 20.5 hectare former brickworks site at 78 Middleborough Road Burwood East, now owned by Frasers Property Australia;
- the RSPCA site at the corner of Middleborough Road and Burwood Highway; and
- the Burwood Heights Shopping Centre.
Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan
The Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan was prepared to guide future development and improvement of Burwood Heights. It established a vision for the Burwood Heights Activity Centre which was developed through consultation and reflects the aspirations of the community, Council and of other stakeholders.
In August 2006, Council adopted the Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan, completing a major milestone for the Activity Centre. The Structure Plan was finalised after review of community feedback on the Draft Plan in February 2006. The Victorian Government contributed funding to preparation of the Structure Plan.
The Structure Plan has since formed the basis of local planning policies in the Whitehorse Planning Scheme for the Activity Centre. More specific and detailed planning has been carried out for the former Brickworks Site.
Former Brickworks Site
The 20.5ha Former Brickworks site near the north-east corner of Burwood Highway and Middleborough Road (78 Middleborough Road Burwood East), is a key site within the Burwood Heights Activity Centre.
The current land owner Frasers Property Australia has been actively pursuing its vision to develop the site for a mix of uses including a diversity of housing, a shopping centre, open spaces, new roads, pathways and other associated infrastructure.
The project commenced in mid-2018 starting with construction of the shopping centre. The full site development is expected to be completed by 2025.
Former Brickworks Endorsed Development Plan
The overall Development Plan for the site prepared by Frasers Property was first approved by Council in July 2016 and endorsed in February 2018. Since then, Council has approved the following updates to the Development Plan:
- Addition of entertainment-related uses, such as the cinema (approved in December 2018)
- Payment of a contribution to address the stormwater treatment obligations for the development instead of a proposed wetland in the adjoining Melbourne Water retarding basin (approved in June 2022).
The approved Development Plan is used to guide the development of the Former Brickworks and can be accessed below:
Burwood Heights Activity Centre Planning Timeline
Date
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Milestone
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2004 - 2006
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Council prepared a Structure Plan for Burwood Heights, identified as a Major Activity Centre in Melbourne 2030 (the former strategy for metropolitan Melbourne). The Structure Plan involved significant input from the community throughout the process.
Alongside Council’s Structure Planning process, the previous owners of the Former Brickworks site (Reading Properties) prepared a Framework Plan for major redevelopment of the site. The Framework Plan was endorsed by Council on 18 July 2005 and was the basis of subsequent planning scheme Amendment C063.
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23 February 2006
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Amendment C063 was approved by the Minister for Planning and rezoned the former Brickworks site to the Priority Development Zone, incorporating the Former Brickworks Site Framework Plan, 13 July 2005 and the Former Brickworks Site Building Height Plan, 13 July 2005, and various policy changes including new interim local policies for the Burwood Heights Activity Centre and for the Former Brickworks Site.
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21 August 2006
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Council adopted the Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan June 2006, after review of community feedback on the Draft Plan in February 2006.
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18 February 2008
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After consulting the community, Council approved an overall Development Plan for the Former Brickworks site as required under the planning controls, subject to conditions. This Development Plan was later endorsed on 27 November 2008. See Council Report 27 November 2008 ( PDF 415.81KB) .
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1 October 2009
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Amendment C092 approved a number of changes relating to the Burwood Height Major Activity Centre, such as replacing interim local planning policies for the Burwood Heights Major Activity Centre (Clause 22.13) and the Former Brickworks Site (Clause 22.14) with updated permanent policies consistent with the findings of the adopted Burwood Heights Activity Centre Structure Plan June 2006.
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May 2014
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Australand purchased the Former Brickworks site from Reading Properties and commence a new planning process for the site.
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20 October 2014
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Council resolved to consult the community on Australand’s Burwood East Draft Masterplan and Urban Design Report and draft planning controls for the Former Brickworks site. See Council Report 20 October 2014 ( PDF 3.95MB).
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27 Oct - 28 Nov 2014
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Australand’s Burwood East Draft Masterplan and Urban Design Report and draft planning controls for the Former Brickworks site are placed on display for community comment.
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27 January 2015
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The Council adopted the updated draft Burwood East Master Plan and Urban Design Report, January 2015 and resolved to support Australand’s request to the Minister for Planning to rezone the Former Brickworks Site to Residential Growth Zone, General Residential Zone and Commercial 1 Zone, update associated local policies and to apply a Development Plan Overlay to the site. See Council Report 27 January 2015 ( PDF 1.94MB).
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23 March 2015
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Australand lodges Amendment C170 with the Minister for Planning under section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
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31 August 2015
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Australand is renamed to Frasers Property Australia.
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10 September 2015
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Amendment C170 was gazetted by the Minister for Planning.
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14 December 2015
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Council decides to place a Draft Development Plan for the Former Brickworks Site on display for community comment as required under the planning controls. See Council Report 14 December 2015 ( PDF 2.54MB) .
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1-19 February 2016
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Draft Development Plan for Former Brickworks Site is exhibited.
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18 July 2016
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Following consideration of community comment, Council decides to approve the Development Plan, subject to conditions. See Council Report 18 July 2016 ( PDF 2.57MB)
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| September 2016 |
The first of many planning permits for various stages of the development was issued. |
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28 February 2018
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Development Plan for the Former Brickworks Site is approved following direction from VCAT. Links to the approved Development Plan are included above.
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15–29 October 2018
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Development Plan changed to include entertainment-related uses and placed on display for community comment.
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10 December 2018
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Updated Development Plan approved by Council. See Council Report 10 December 2018 ( PDF 1.77MB).
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| 20 Dec 2021 – 18 Jan 2022 |
Development Plan changed to remove a proposed wetland from the adjoining Eley Road retarding basin and placed on display for community comment
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| 14 June 2022 |
Updated Development Plan approved by Council. See Council Report 14 June 2022 |
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