Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council | Adjournment
4 March 2026
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan Region):
Maribyrnong is host to a large number of disused and derelict buildings and vacant land. Many are in strategically located sites with existing planning approvals, but instead of being converted into much-needed housing or community assets, years of neglect have left them as suitable homes only for vermin and targets for graffiti and vandalism.
The impacts of long-term vacant and underutilised land on community safety, amenity, housing delivery and local economic activity have long been felt by its residents. The old Dimmeys and Forges building in the heart of downtown Footscray, a beautiful old building with a rich heritage, is a glaring example.
Since its closure in 2009, it has been left to rot. Its roof leaks and masonry and broken glass carpet the floor. Centrally located next to shops and facilities, residents are forced to traverse this eerie and dangerous place as they shop for groceries, go to the bank or wait for the bus. It is but one of many sites in Footscray, including the former Little Saigon market, which burnt down in 2016.
Since its acquisition by developers, it has remained unused, other than as a site for illegal dumping. These sites are prime land in the Footscray CBD, 7 kilometres from the city. Residents want the owners of these abandoned sites to actually start converting them into much-needed housing and community amenities.
Maribyrnong City Council concede there is little that they can do beyond encouraging development. It has no statutory authority to compel development or require interim activation of privately owned land, with key legislative, planning and taxation powers instead held by, of course, the state government.
These are not the sorts of sites that are generally captured by the vacant residential land tax, and this issue is not addressed by the recent major reforms to the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
The action I seek is that the Minister for Planning initiate reforms to prevent land in designated activity centres from remaining vacant after planning permits are granted. These could include reining in excessively generous permit expiry terms and requiring interim activation where developments do not commence within a set timeframe.
Written Answer
Received: 23 April 2026
Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP
(Attorney-General, Minister for Planning)
I thank the Member for Western Metropolitan Region for his question.
The Victorian Government is committed to supporting population and jobs growth in the Footscray Precinct, as it becomes the heart of creativity and enterprise in Melbourne’s inner west.
The Department of Transport and Planning facilitates planning permit approvals but has no role in tenancies or vacancies.
Planning approvals free up the opportunity for the market to step in once land use and development applications have been approved.
Initiatives like the Government’s Development Facilitation Program (DFP) help accelerate eligible developments to get them to the construction stage faster. The DFP streamlines the planning process for priority projects that boost investment into the economy, keep people in jobs, and create homes for Victorians.
To ensure planning approvals are acted on in a timely way, individual planning permits expire after a set amount of time, and proponents can apply for extensions in some cases, otherwise they would have to reapply for a permit.
Councils can refuse to extend the time for development to start, such as when there have been changes to relevant planning controls or planning policy.
Councils can also often negotiate opportunities for temporary site activation before development starts and have mechanisms outside the planning process that can be used to ensure the maintenance and safety of land before development starts such as local law compliance.
Footscray will benefit from the development of the new $1.5b Footscray Hospital as well as Melbourne Airport Rail, and residents are already reaping the benefits of the newly opened West Gate and Metro Tunnels.
[ENDS]
