A community groundswell is building in Coburg, Victoria, with more than 2,500 people signing a petition urging Merri-bek City Council to stop an overdevelopment proposal that locals say risks “destroying the heart of our community.”
The petition, launched by the Ypapanti Committee and titled Help STOP Merri-bek from closing our Church, calls on the Council to revise its Central Coburg Structure Plan, which includes at least 15 new buildings – among them an eight-storey tower directly opposite the Presentation of Our Lord, Greek Orthodox Church and Community Hub on Victoria Street.
Residents, parishioners and community service participants warn the proposal threatens one of the municipality’s busiest cultural, spiritual and welfare centres, describing it as a hub whose loss of access, parking and safety would have “devastating” consequences.
A community hub at risk
The Ypapanti precinct hosts far more than weekly services. It operates as a metropolitan-scale community centre, facilitating festivals, education programs, addiction recovery initiatives, welfare services for the homeless, and major rites of passage – from christenings and weddings to funerals.
Petitioners argue that these high-demand programs “cannot be sustained” if parking, accessibility and safety are compromised.
Concerns also remain over the fragility of the consecrated building, which houses hand-painted iconography, relics, and spaces not easily relocated or protected from construction impacts.
Parking and traffic fears dominate community concerns
Central to the community backlash is the anticipated loss of essential on-site and street-level parking. The petition states elderly parishioners, families with young children, funeral attendees and welfare program participants rely on this daily access.
Traffic modelling for the precinct has not been publicly released, nor have shadow diagrams, prompting fears of congestion, overshadowing and increased safety hazards during peak church periods such as Easter and major feast days.
A proposed multi-deck car park remains “unconfirmed in scope and utility,” leading signatories to question whether it can realistically support peak loads or accommodate essential service vehicles.
Local voices: ‘Our church is the heart of our community’
Dozens of supporters have left deeply personal messages underscoring the church’s cultural and social significance.
Madeline, who signed the petition, wrote: “This church is more than a building, it is the heart of our family and our community. It’s where my husband was baptised, where we were married, and where we plan to baptise our daughter next year… Father Leo and the parish do incredible work that touches countless lives… Our church deserves protection, not disruption.”
Another supporter, Teena, expressed how deeply the proposed tower would impact the spiritual life of parishioners: “As a Greek Orthodox woman and parishioner, I’m heartbroken. Ypapanti is our spiritual home… This development would overshadow a sacred place that generations have built with love and faith. Please protect our church and the heart of our community.”
These comments reflect a broader sentiment throughout the petition: that the proposed redevelopment risks dismantling a vital cultural anchor for Coburg’s multigenerational communities, including Greek, Middle Eastern, South-East Asian and African families.
Calls for transparency and genuine consultation
Petitioners have outlined several key requests to Merri-bek Council, including:
- Scrapping the eight-storey tower opposite the church and redistributing height elsewhere.
- Guaranteeing no net loss of accessible parking.
- Conducting a full independent traffic and parking impact assessment.
- Releasing all shadowing, noise, wind and safety modelling publicly.
- Funding a structural dilapidation survey before construction begins.
- Engaging in co-design workshops with the Church Committee and community groups.
- Supporting welfare and addiction-recovery programs that operate onsite and “save lives.”
‘Revitalisation should not mean displacement’
While signatories say they support responsible development, they argue the current plan fails to accommodate Coburg’s diverse, multi-generational population. Many note the absence of culturally appropriate housing or larger dwelling designs suited to the area’s demographic needs.
“Development that destroys parking, threatens heritage, endangers the elderly and undermines essential welfare programs is not revitalisation – it’s displacement,” the petition states.
The community campaign continues to grow, with organisers promising further updates as efforts to protect the church and community hub intensify.
Council says vision aims to ‘maximise Coburg’s potential’
Merri-bek City Council, for its part, issued a media release and said its Coburg is here concept for central Coburg is driven by community feedback gathered through “The Coburg Conversation” in 2023, which highlighted calls for more green space, diverse housing options, better journeys for walkers, riders and drivers, and accessible parking.
The draft vision includes a new library and piazza, up to 18-storey buildings designed to minimise overshadowing, six new public open spaces, new streets and laneways, and around 900 car parks within a short walk of central Coburg.
“Central Coburg is already the beating heart of Merri-bek, but now is the time to maximise its potential as a cultural, economic and retail hub while still retaining its rich character,” Merri-bek Mayor Helen Davidson said, adding that Council now wants to hear community feedback on the proposal “to bring that vision to reality.”
The Coburg is here development plan is open now for community feedback until December 18. Have your say here.
