MAB appoints first Planning Director – ex-GAA Director joins MAB’s planning division
| MAB appoints first Planning Director.Ex-GAA Director joins MAB’s planning division |
Greg Bursill has joined MAB Corporation as Planning Director to steer the planning and development of its future projects. Appointed in May this year, Bursill will oversee the planning of MAB’s new broad acre housing and integrated projects using his extensive experience in developing Melbourne’s urban growth areas. In 2005, Bursill joined the Victorian State Government and worked to establish the Growth Areas Authority (GAA) as an independent body and improve Melbourne’s planning. As the first Planning Director of the GAA, Bursill established the new urban growth zones and developed the Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) Guidelines and worked closely with local councils within the growth areas. Bursill’s contributions to the GAA were instrumental in changing the future of residential sub-divisions across Melbourne by providing parks, gardens and retail sites to create mini-cities. Bursill began his career in urban planning as City of Casey’s development manager and made significant contributions to the area’s development through urban design and master-planning of key sites. “I grew up in the booming Casey growth area, and experienced first hand the issues caused through poor planning and lack of infrastructure coordination,” he said. Leaving the GAA as Director of Structure Planning, Bursill managed the roll-out of the PSP Program. The program will see the approval of over 40 PSPs, as well as add 24,500 hectares for development, and alleviate the pressure on the housing market and affordability, which directly improves the quality of outcomes on the ground. Joining MAB the day after the GAIC Bill passed through Parliament, Bursill is looking forward to proving the PSP product will be effective for MAB’s broader development strategy. “I made a significant contribution to creating the rules and guidelines and this role is a chance to implement my theories and concepts in a practical manner,” he said. MAB’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), David Hall, said Bursill will assist MAB in the planning and development into a range of projects and will head the new 10,000-lot development at Merrifield. “Greg’s appointment will offer valuable foresight into PSP structures which will assist in maximising the outcomes and broader vision of our projects,” he said. Merrifield is earmarked as the new northern entrance into Melbourne and will become a self-sufficient satellite city, creating 30,000 employment opportunities among a thriving residential community. Touted as Australia’s best new city centre, the site in Melbourne’s north will see this sustainable, mixed-use business site house one of MAB’s largest PSP projects which will include parks, amenity, office and retail space. For further information: Greg Bursill Grant Müller |