Merrifield employment hub moves one step closer

Commencement of Stage 1 of the 880 hectare $5 billion Merrifield project in Hume City is now one step closer following the Council’s decision, to adopt the rezoning of 423 hectares of land from Farming Zone to the Comprehensive Development Zone.

The Council will now request the Minister for Planning to approve the rezoning of the employment precinct.

In November 2005, the Victorian Government with support from Hume City Council included part of Merrifield within the Urban Growth Boundary and designated the land for future employment.

“The Council and the Growth Area Authority are planning for the future to deliver more jobs for the Hume Growth Area and it is pleasing that it is now likely that we can commence our stage 1 works in the next few months”, said General Manager Merrifield, David Hall.

“Council’s recent approval of the rezoning of Stage 1 of Merrifield is an important step forward in achieving our vision for a vibrant new community with a strong focus on economic and environmental sustainability”, said Mr Hall.

“With the significant residential growth planned for the Hume Growth Area, we believe it is important to plan for jobs to be close to where people live, and the integrated planning for Merrifield will help us achieve that vision.”

“With 17,000 jobs planned for Merrifield, we are planning a project that will encourage a broad and diverse range of employment options for the future from freight and logistics, manufacturing, information technology and office-based jobs.”

“The rezoning of Merrifield has involved an extensive consultation process managed by Hume City Council and this decision is the culmination of many years of forward planning by the Council.”

“This will be one of the largest employment precincts being planned and delivered in metropolitan Melbourne and we are grateful for the planning advice and good collaboration that has assisted the project from both Hume City Council and the Victorian Government.”

Merrifield is situated within the Hume Growth Area, on the corner of Hume Highway and Donnybrook Road in Mickleham.

The site has been designated for employment as it is strategically located within the Hume corridor – a key gateway for economic activity recognised as a location of national importance for transport, manufacturing, freight and logistic activities.