15th of September 2024, 6:40pm
Victorian Parliament Legislative Council, Melbourne
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and it concerns the residents of Mount Atkinson, in my region. For those members who have not had the pleasure of visiting Mount Atkinson, let me read you a description.
Mt. Atkinson has been carefully planned … to create one of Victoria’s most convenient, connected and liveable new communities … Mt. Atkinson has been built on four pillars; live, grow, work and shop.
It is a place that is perfectly balanced in an ‘unrivalled location’, and there are the future Mount Atkinson town centre, primary and secondary schools and convenient transportation options, including a proposed train station, all coming very soon. Truly Mount Atkinson is a place where:
… it’s possible to have it all.
If members wonder why they have never heard of this slice of paradise, it is because the place I have just described does not exist outside of the marketing blurb of the Stockland website. The reality is in fact starkly different. New residents were lured by the developer Stockland’s promise of accessibility to shops, schools and public transport. Indeed many were persuaded by Stockland to pay a premium to be closer to the promised amenities, including the Westfield shopping centre slated for completion this year but now not going ahead. Stockland continued to sell these proximity premiums right up until Westfield publicly pulled the pin on Mount Atkinson, begging the question: when did Stockland know that the shopping centre would not be proceeding as promised?
Mount Atkinson has no shops, no access to public transport, the nearest supermarket is 13 kilometres away and the nearest train station is 8 kilometres away, as is the nearest primary school. You have to own a car to get to these places because there are no public transport options. This situation is not unique to Mount Atkinson. Developers routinely overpromise and underdeliver in this state. So I ask the minister: what protections and redress exist for residents who, based on representations from property developers regarding infrastructure and services, purchase property and find that those services and infrastructure are not delivered?
Written Answer
Received: 21 November 2024
Hon Gabrielle Williams MP
(Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport)
I thank the Member for his question.
The Victorian Government is committed to fairness and transparency in the property industry and takes the issues the Member raises seriously. Developers, estate agents and other vendors all have responsibilities under Australian Consumer Law and the Sale of Land Act 1996, the Act in the advertisement and sale of land.
I have referred this matter to Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), who are assessing whether there may have been any breaches of the Act or Australian Consumer Law by developers and other involved parties. If affected consumers believe they were given false or misleading information, I would encourage them to contact CAV directly on 1300 55 81 81 or via its website www.consumer.vic.gov.au.
[ENDS]
