By Hannah Vandenbogaerde
University of Melbourne journalism graduate
The former Forges site has become a symbol of Footscray’s ongoing land banking debate.
Vacant for 17 years many locals are frustrated and increasingly concerned about the site’s condition.
According to locals like Clare Blake and Danny Vong, it has become an unsafe environment.
“Because of that feeling of chaos, neglect and disorganisation this area brings about, it attracts chaos,” Clare Blake says.
Danny Vong says he believes opening up Albert Street would create space, flow, and activity making it less likely for criminals to congregate there.
“That’s also a spot where a lot of people hang out. It doesn’t feel safe… But my kind of idea was, if you open up the road, it’ll make a huge difference. It will make it more open. People going past will mean that there is always something happening there.”
Seddon local Andres* says he seldom visits Footscray due to similar feelings, pointing out the huge difference between the two suburbs.
“As soon as you go under that railway line and start walking into Footscray, it changes dramatically. And it always amazes me. Seddon could be a hundred kilometres away from Footscray.”
Maribyrong Mayor Cr Mohamed Semra says Council shares the community’s frustration.
“These sites undermine safety, amenity, economic activity, and the vibrancy of the CBD.”
Maribyrnong councillor Pradeep Tiwari recently put forward a motion calling for an investigation into reopening the bridge adjacent to the site on Albert Street.
Resident Clare Blake says when she’s tried to contact the owner of the site – the developer Banco Group – she’s been ignored.
“They claim to be environmentally and sustainably aware of how they work. That is not the case here. Not if you are letting bits of timber and things fall off walls, rats running around at night time and not taking care of your community.”
However, Footscray local and property analyst Fletcher Bubb says that local laws are at fault, not the developers.
He says the current government regulations are still based on the old Footscray town planning, which no longer work for today’s growth and hinder incentives for further development.
The site is currently zoned for a mix of retail, commercial and medium-to-high density residential.
However Bubb says that with retail moving to online store delivery models the economics for a large retail space don’t stack up.
“You’ve got too many controls there. The government won’t allow you to do something with it that benefits yourself as a landholder and developer in the community.”
He says it is important for the state government and council to find ‘a fit for purpose with a future vision’.
“If we want these sites to be developed for the community, for their highest and best use, we need to encourage landholders to develop them again for their highest and best use.”
Maribyrnong Mayor Cr Mohamed Semra says Council is somewhat restricted with what it can enforce.
“Council’s powers to compel development of private land are limited under current legislation. We can act on safety grounds under the Building Act 1993, but cannot force development simply because a site is vacant. The key levers, planning reform, taxation and compulsory acquisition powers, sit with the state government,” Cr Semra says.
He says Council has nonetheless taken action on this issue, including increasing vacant land rates to 300% of the standard residential rate and enforcing maintenance and safety obligations on landowners under Council’s General Local Law.
He says Council is currently engaging with the landowners of the Forges site regarding demolition and redevelopment.
Local MP Katie Hall says there are opportunities for Council to negotiate more with developers, and that the state government is also looking at what powers they can give to councils to have more leverage and capacity to negotiate.
When it comes to the future, Andres* expresses hope Footscray will get a ‘new lease on life’.
What this would entail, even locals seem divided about.
While Clare Blake says she believes the community urgently needs new facilities such as another supermarket and medical institutions, Fletcher Bubb says the town plan should be changed to allow for more mixed-use residential medium density and open space.
Cr Semra describes Council’s vision for Footscray CBD as “a vibrant, activated centre delivering housing, jobs and community benefit”.
“Sites like Forges represent major opportunities to realise that vision and we will continue to use every available tool, and advocate strongly for the reforms needed to unlock them.”
*Andres is a pseudonym as the interviewee preferred to remain anonymous
