Oakleigh residents are uniting against the Allan government’s proposal for high-rise apartment towers – up to 16 storeys – near Eaton Mall, the heart of Melbourne’s Greek precinct.
More than 200 locals have signed a petition opposing the draft Activity Centre plan, which would increase housing density around Oakleigh railway station as part of the state’s push to deliver 800,000 new homes in a decade.
According to The Herald Sun, the proposal would create a central “core” of buildings between six and 16 storeys, with lower-rise apartments and townhouses in surrounding streets. But longstanding residents Elaine and Trevor Parry said the move threatens the suburb’s character.
Ms Parry warned: “It’s just going to ruin the whole of central Oakleigh and people won’t want to live here.”
Locals fear overshadowing, wind-tunnel effects and the loss of the mall’s outdoor, low-rise appeal.
A government spokesperson told The Herald Sun the plan aims to “deliver more homes in areas well served by trains, trams, shops and jobs,” while emphasising that feedback would inform adjustments to protect “sunny streets, parks and good design.”
Source: The Herald Sun
