Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council | Constituency Question
22 September 2026
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan Region):
My question is for the Minister for Housing, Building and Precincts, represented by Minister Stitt. My constituent in Sunbury is gutted at the sale of several state-owned much-loved heritage-listed properties atop Jacksons Hill for The Block.
Sunbury MP Josh Bull told Nine that turning the properties into luxury homes on TV was ‘in line with what the community called for’.
That is simply not true. They actually called for it to be converted to parks, creative spaces and education hubs to benefit residents, not merely Channel Nine and a handful of millionaires who can actually afford to buy the properties.
As transparency is no longer optional, will the minister disclose the valuation and sale price of the Jacksons Hill properties and why they were not sold through an open and competitive process?
Response received 2 October 2026:
I thank the Member for Western Metropolitan Region for his question.
I am advised that:
- A 2.6-hectare parcel of land including three heritage buildings within the 11-hectare ‘heritage core’ of Jacksons Hill, Sunbury was sold by the Minister for Planning to a subsidiary of Nine Entertainment.
- An exemption from the public sale process was granted based on advice that extensive engagement over many years had failed to identify a financially viable use for the land, and the proposed sale offered a unique opportunity to achieve investment in the restoration and reuse part of the precinct, attracting further investment to unlock the balance of the site for a variety of mixed uses.
- The transaction was approved by the Victorian Government Land Monitor at market value as certified by Valuer-General Victoria.
- Consistent with government processes, the sale value will be published on the Victorian Government’s ‘Recent sales history’ webpage.
Hon Nick Staikos MP
Minister for Housing, Building and Precincts
