Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Clare O'Neil MP, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Cities
Federal environmental approval has been granted for a major new housing development, which will unlock homes for up to 3,700 people in inner city Melbourne, while revitalising the historic Queen Victoria Market.
The development by Lendlease involves building two residential towers, a student accommodation tower and low-rise civic building adjacent to the market. This will deliver over 2200 new residences - 1100 new apartments, including 130 at low-cost, and 1150 student rooms.
The current market carpark will be transformed into a 1.8 ha park that showcases the historic significance of the Old Melbourne Cemetery.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said conditions attached to the development preserved the heritage features of the Queen Victoria Market while delivering more homes for Victorians.
"Through thoughtful design, this project will provide new and much-needed housing while ensuring this Melbourne icon can be enjoyed for many years to come," Minister Watt said.
"The market will continue to provide its famous fresh produce for Melbourne families and visitors, as it has done continuously since 1878. This project will offer modern facilities to make the market more accessible and appealing to traders, customers and tourists alike, without impacting the amount of parking on site.
"And the development will provide significant heritage benefits for the Queen Vic Markets by restoring the historic Franklin Street Stores."
Minister for Housing Clare O'Neil welcomed the development.
"Housing is a life-defining challenge for so many Australians. People are working hard, doing everything right - and still can't afford a place to call home. We're working hard to make housing easier, and these 2,250 new apartments in the heart of Melbourne will make a real impact.
"In just three years, The Albanese Government has invested $43 billion compared to just $5 billion in the decade before. We are working with industry and all levels of government to build, build, build because more housing means more affordable housing for all Australians.
"This is a fantastic announcement. We have too many regulations standing in the path of builders that is serving no purpose other than to delay and create more expensive housing. If we're going to build more homes, which is exactly what our government is trying to do, then that's going to have to change."
