5000 more houses, 12,000 more people

LAST Thursday, the Acting Minister for Planning Melissa Horne, announced what is effectively a $3.5 billion residential, business and recreation expansion of Wonthaggi.

It will add another 5000 new homes to the north and east of the town over the next 30 to 50 years, increasing the population by 12,000 people from 8000 to 20,000.

When you consider that there were 4755 private dwellings recorded by the ABS at the 2021 Census in Wonthaggi, Wonthaggi North and Dalyston, it’s a big number. Huge.

The developer contributions alone for roads, intersections, drainage, and community and recreation facilities associated with the Wonthaggi North-East Precinct Structure Plan is estimated at more than $135 million, which you could easily double when state and local government contributions are added in.

At the centre of the massive expansion will be a Village Hub with sporting reserves, new government primary school and local convenience store.

According to the Victorian Planning Authority, which fast-tracked the Bass Coast Shire Council’s plan, “the gross developable area for Wonthaggi North East is 632 hectares of which 506 hectares, or 80.1 per cent, is net developable area (NDA); 444 hectares are available for residential development and 63 hectares are available for employment development”.

Notwithstanding the fact that there are hundreds and hundreds of building blocks available for sale in the town now, at prices between $270,000 and $310,000, with an immediate start to building, as a result of earlier residential expansion, some say Wonthaggi will need more area to grow within the timeframe announced last week.

Born and bred Wonthaggi councillor Brett Tessari says we’ve seen it coming but as ambitious as the plan is for 5000 more homes in the next 30 to 50 years, he can see the town growing faster than that.

“I thought that when I was in real estate, and I believe that now. I reckon we’re going to have to recalculate again in five to 10 years’ time.

“What is going on east of Korumburra Road, in through McGibbonys Road, and elsewhere in the town is huge.

“There’s hundreds of tradesmen working in the town at the moment, and certainly a lot of them are working for the volume builders, but all of our local builders and tradesmen are busy as well.

“It’s an enormous part of the economy and only going to get bigger.

“It stands to reason, if you’re closing down Inverloch and Cape Paterson to further development, it’s got to go somewhere, and Wonthaggi is clearly going to pick up a lot of that.

“We’re an easy, very easy drive to Melbourne and with everything the area has to offer, it’s a great option.

“If my kids and their friends are going to stay living and working locally, as expensive as it is to get started, they’re going to have to build here. And that’s what’s happening.”

Cr Tessari said he hoped development of an aquatic centre in Wonthaggi would come sooner rather than later, but these were the sorts of infrastructure developments that the town needed.

Local real estate agents are more circumspect.

They say there are thousands of blocks on the ground now, more than enough for the next five, even 10 years.

And, also, that the market has changed with interest rates and concerns about failed builders raising red flags for some.

“The housing starts we are seeing now relate back to when the market was hot. It’s still steady but nothing like it was,” said one local agent who has nonetheless welcomed the announcement.

One of the local tradesmen on the job today, building a new four-bedroom home for Sherridon Homes in the Parklands Estate, Mick Kolden, and his apprentice Tyge Sylvestor, both of Wonthaggi, say there’s plenty going on.

“I’ve got a lot of blokes coming in here tomorrow. We should be finished here this week,” said Mick.

“Then it’s on to the next one. All over from Phillip Island to Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Leongatha; there’s a lot going on,” he said as he pushes the shovel into a builder’s barrow full of wet concrete.

Both the Acting Minister Melissa Horne and local MP Jordan Crugnale have hailed the announcement as providing “much-needed homes” but acknowledged it won’t happen overnight.

“While we get on with delivering thousands of homes in established suburbs in cities over the next decade, we’re also supporting growth areas like Wonthaggi North East with more homes, jobs and community infrastructure,” said Minister Horne.

Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale welcomed the announcement.

“Wonthaggi is growing, and these new plans will provide much needed new homes as well as a new primary school, sporting facilities, a commercial area and green spaces to maximise livability and connectivity.”

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor Clare Le Serve said the development would provide much needed affordable housing options, employment opportunities and community amenities to cater for the rising Bass Coast population.

“This major project is a game-changer that will unlock huge opportunities for the region and guide the development of a new growth area in Wonthaggi for future generations,” Cr Le Serve said.

“The area will undergo a full transition of land use into a large-scale residential development and community infrastructure. This will allow for a considerable population increase and provide for a range of land size options to suit all housing needs.

“The project reinforces Wonthaggi’s role as a regional centre as well as delivering community facilities; a primary school, local parks, over 90 hectares of open space, trails and a new sports reserve for residents. The area will be ready to fully take advantage of the opportunities presented in proximity to the metropolitan area and the surrounding Gippsland region.”

Cr Le Serve said the project would also open up over 60 hectares of commercial and industrial land creating 2940 jobs over the life of the plan.

“It will provide employment opportunities by allowing commercial and industrial businesses to establish on the Bass Highway. The plan will ensure that new communities are integrated with the existing town through road connections and tree-lined streets. The extensive pathway network will connect residents to parks, sporting and community facilities, bushland, the existing township and the Bass Coast Rail Trail.”

The Wonthaggi North-East Precinct Structure Plan was identified as a project on the Victorian Planning Authority’s (VPA) Fast Track Program as a result of significant growth in the area over the past five years.