The legal green light has been given to demolish three of Melbourne’s public housing towers in the city’s inner north, after the Court of Appeal dismissed a last-ditch bid by residents to save their homes.
The Court of Appeal on Friday morning upheld an original ruling that the state government’s 30-year redevelopment plan had not impinged on tenants’ human rights, despite intense criticism from a parliamentary inquiry that accused the state of a “blatant disregard for democratic accountability”.
The towers at 120 Racecourse Road (foreground) and 12 Holland Court (at rear) are set for demolition.Credit: Chris Hopkins
The court’s ruling allows the state to proceed with the demolition of the first three occupied towers – 33 Alfred Street and 120 Racecourse Road in North Melbourne, and 12 Holland Court in Flemington – where 91 per cent of tenants have been moved out, according to the government. Early demolition works have already begun, and the towers are set to be torn down next year.
The wider project will eventually move 10,000 residents at 44 sites across Melbourne and lease the public land to private developers for 40 years. The sites will be rebuilt with a mix of private rentals and “community housing” – properties owned and managed by not-for-profit organisations, rather than the state.
So far, the only traditional public housing confirmed to be rebuilt is a pair of red-brick towers in Carlton, for which the federal government has committed separate funding.
Public housing residents protest outside Parliament House this month.Credit: Chris Hopkins
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R-Coo Tran, a spokeswoman for the group 44 Flats United – which comprises tenants from across all 44 towers slated for redevelopment – said the group had vowed to continue fighting the plans despite the court’s ruling.
“The only thing that will safeguard public housing for current and future generations to come is the power of residents standing up and organising together against these atrocious plans,” she said.
