Sandown racing housing development planning

[Bill M]

Looks like the end is near for Sandown.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/raci...12-p51mil.html

The Sandown Park and Greyhound Club Precinct, of which the MRC-owned Sandown Racecourse forms the lion's share, has been identified by the Victorian Planning Authority as a "strategic site". The VPA is working with the MRC and Sandown Greyhound Club on a development plan.

"The plan will transform the Sandown Precinct [Sandown Racecourse and Sandown Greyhound Club carpark] into a new suburb," the VPA states on its website, adding that the proposal is at the "pre-planning and project scoping" stage.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Bill M

Looks like the end is near for Sandown.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/raci...12-p51mil.html

It's literally surrounded by houses, with the value of Eastern suburban land it would be a HUGE money maker as a suburb.

Turn it into houses and build a new track out in the boonies far east.

Wait until Calder Park turns into a new suburb too, it too is surrounded by newer suburbs, Hillside, Taylors Lakes etc.

Regardless of how much crap is buried there it's in prime position with a rail line on one side and the Calder Freeway on the other side, cost $50M to clean up it'll be worth $500M as houses given proximity to Melbourne.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Bill M

Looks like the end is near for Sandown.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/raci...12-p51mil.html

Great!.... Another Sth. Eastern ghetto suburb

[Citroënbender]

I can see a future where only the regional racing venues remain - and even they will be under threat soon enough if urban sprawl continues.

The commitments both physical and fiscal required of a person engaging in motorsport - even at amateur level - are such that (I believe) participation will rapidly dwindle in the next few years. It’s not much different to the assailing of golf courses and bowling clubs by developers.

[Bill M]

Prime real estate it is indeed. And that is progress I suppose.
Many happy memories there.

[hayseed]

i went past where Oran Park used to be the other day. There's not one reminder of what was once there..

Bit sad really.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by hayseed

i went past where Oran Park used to be the other day. There's not one reminder of what was once there..

Bit sad really.

See an overhead timelapse of the dissappearance of the Oran Park circuit 2009-2016 in this post: https://fordforums.com.au/showpost.p...5&postcount=37

The circuit is visible in the first frame on the left, although the development of new residential areas had already bugun. By the end it is all gone, although many of the street names have a motor sport association (e.g. Peter Brock Drive, The Straight, Ambrose st, Skaife st. etc. There's even 'The Grid Cafe')

Same thing will happen to Sandown.

[lucas2]

It's a shame that Sandown didn't do easily accessible test n tunes or similar on the front straight on Friday or Saturday evenings. They were probably held back by noise regulations. I'm sure it may have kept some of the "hoons" on the track instead of on Princes Hwy during the evenings. I live 10 mins away and would have loved for that to be an option.

[TER2BO]

Yes, the current government would be all for it. Lots of new houses(well units) equals heaps of money for them.
I have been around for a while(understatment) and people who built/ brought cheaper houses near there new it was a car racing track but have tried to have it closed down for over 25 years. Just like Essendon /Moorabbin Airports.
On a sad note if it does happen (and money talks- VFL Park) I will remember the good times competing there many times in the past.
The only crash I had in 15+ years of competing was into the causeway at the Dunlop Bridge coming onto the main straight. They moved the bridge after Alan Hamilton hit it in a big way.
Also I enjoyed watching the big Touring car events , Formula 5000's ,the Tasman Series and the famous drivers that competed there.
Lastly ,here is a bit of my history for you. At one of the major Historic Events held there I was lined up on the grid (in my $5k car) next to Reg Hunt in his $5m Masarati and trying to work out how not to hit it going into the first 2 corners. I had a lot of thinking time as the start was held up after the warm up lap so Reg,s mechanic could change the spark plugs to the racing ones from the warmup ones. No I didn't put a scatch on it thank heavens.
Later on at Sandown I also raced against his son in the Group N Mustang.
They were the good times.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by TER2BO

Yes, the current government would be all for it. Lots of new houses(well units) equals heaps of money for them.
I have been around for a while(understatment) and people who built/ brought cheaper houses near there new it was a car racing track but have tried to have it closed down for over 25 years. Just like Essendon /Moorabbin Airports.
On a sad note if it does happen (and money talks- VFL Park) I will remember the good times competing there many times in the past.
The only crash I had in 15+ years of competing was into the causeway at the Dunlop Bridge coming onto the main straight. They moved the bridge after Alan Hamilton hit it in a big way.
Also I enjoyed watching the big Touring car events , Formula 5000's ,the Tasman Series and the famous drivers that competed there.
Lastly ,here is a bit of my history for you. At one of the major Historic Events held there I was lined up on the grid (in my $5k car) next to Reg Hunt in his $5m Masarati and trying to work out how not to hit it going into the first 2 corners. I had a lot of thinking time as the start was held up after the warm up lap so Reg,s mechanic could change the spark plugs to the racing ones from the warmup ones. No I didn't put a scatch on it thank heavens.
Later on at Sandown I also raced against his son in the Group N Mustang.
They were the good times.

The irony is Essendon Airport is the cleanest and nicest looking industrial estate in Melbourne, if anything it's grown from people whinging about the airport wanting it closed to being the airport and automotive sales and repair hub with 10+ dealerships, landscaped gardens as far as the eye can see and a shopping district.

You'd just about live in there if they had apartments

[EBSXR6]

The World Sports Car Championship race at Sandown, the Mercedes V8s sounded sensational.
Formula 5000's as a youngster we were up the top of the back straight and a 5000 became airborne it just landed and kept going. I have never Marshall's move so quickly towards the fence.
Touring Cars Moffat, Brock, Johnson etc.
Sports sedans Tony Edmonson's Chevy powered Alfa and Jim Richards Falcon Coupe.

[Vesper Martini]

Sandown. close access to Monash & eastlink and it already has a train station.
$$$$

Can you imagine the value of Flemington race course

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Sandown. close access to Monash & eastlink and it already has a train station.
$$$$

Can you imagine the value of Flemington race course

Yeh great, another 10,000 cars trying to access the already supa glue clogged Monash and Eastlink.
Genius town planning..... cant wait for this.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

Yeh great, another 10,000 cars trying to access the already supa glue clogged Monash and Eastlink.
Genius town planning..... cant wait for this.

The largest growing part of Australia, and probably the southern hemisphere is the city of casey. and is expected to keep growing.

lets keep going with the urban sprawl building sub divisions further out, without the proper roads or public transport. because that will make less cars on the roads

IMO Sandown is one of the lesser traffic congested areas,
whats your solution?

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

The largest growing part of Australia, and probably the southern hemisphere is the city of casey. and is expected to keep growing.

lets keep going with the urban sprawl building sub divisions further out, without the proper roads or public transport. because that will make less cars on the roads

IMO Sandown is one of the lesser traffic congested areas,
whats your solution?

The solution is to properly asess infrastructure v population and resources in the immediate area AND SURROUNDINGS and not for councils to pander to greedy developers and private equity firms.
Instead of having potentially 200 houses in this area - we'd end up with 2000 residences. Rat hole / ghetto type developments to squeeze in as many people as possible and ensure greater profits for the developers and ongoing extortionate rates for councils.
The answer is more complex and difficult - but it comes down to immigration rates and what we all want from our suburbs in terms of lifestyle and housing mix and ease of getting around..... AND the Governments initiatives and push to get more skilled migrants into regional and country areas instead of trying to shoehorn a size 11 foot into a size 6 shoe.
Build a Major new Hospital on there........... get people off waiting lists and onto beds.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

The solution is to properly asess infrastructure v population and resources in the immediate area AND SURROUNDINGS and not for councils to pander to greedy developers and private equity firms.
Instead of having potentially 200 houses in this area - we'd end up with 2000 residences. Rat hole / ghetto type developments to squeeze in as many people as possible and ensure greater profits for the developers and ongoing extortionate rates for councils.
The answer is more complex and difficult - but it comes down to immigration rates and what we all want from our suburbs in terms of lifestyle and housing mix and ease of getting around..... AND the Governments initiatives and push to get more skilled migrants into regional and country areas instead of trying to shoehorn a size 11 foot into a size 6 shoe.
Build a Major new Hospital on there........... get people off waiting lists and onto beds.

I agree on the council part, its a tier of Government making decisions which are beyond them..
But I seriously doubt they will build Ghetto type developments in this location Just down the road take a look at M-city http://m-city.com.au/
Hospitals - there's certainly enough room for something there not a bad idea actually.
Spend money on a new Hospital and demolish Dandenong hospital instead of wasting money on planned refurbishments.
the residential land will help pay for it.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

The largest growing part of Australia, and probably the southern hemisphere is the city of casey. and is expected to keep growing.

lets keep going with the urban sprawl building sub divisions further out, without the proper roads or public transport. because that will make less cars on the roads

IMO Sandown is one of the lesser traffic congested areas,
whats your solution?

Solution? Close the cities. The country areas await you.

[CoupeKing]

I was at Springvale last week at the pistol range - dreaded going there. I'm travelling from from west of Werribee. The traffic congestion on my side is pathetic to say the least.

[Franco Cozzo]

How good is driving around the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne?

To be honest driving around any part of Melbourne sucks, doesn't matter if you're SE, E, W or N its a PITFA

[Citroënbender]

I'd swap it for Sydney, nearly any day. Have spent over an hour getting from near the big Coke sign, to across the Anzac Bridge in high season.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

How good is driving around the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne?

To be honest driving around any part of Melbourne sucks, doesn't matter if you're SE, E, W or N its a PITFA

I was on Dandenong Rd mostly (or Princess something, woteva it is) so I can't really speak for the rest of the east. But once you're away from the city, it was reasonably free-flowing. The infrastructure has always been different out west.

Plus people started waking up 15 or so years ago and instead of paying 1 mil plus for a dog box in Ascot Vale (50 year old wiring, no insulation, heating and cooling designed by some guy that died on the Titanic) they opted to travel further and spend 300k on a house further out west. So the population has gone nuts out here but the main arteries have remained the same = congestion.

Well that's my version of events, I'm sure everyones will be different but the West Gate Bridge and it's surrounding roads need to be relocated to Alpha Centauri.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

I was on Dandenong Rd mostly (or Princess something, woteva it is) so I can't really speak for the rest of the east. But once you're away from the city, it was reasonably free-flowing. The infrastructure has always been different out west.

Plus people started waking up 15 or so years ago and instead of paying 1 mil plus for a dog box in Ascot Vale (50 year old wiring, no insulation, heating and cooling designed by some guy that died on the Titanic) they opted to travel further and spend 300k on a house further out west. So the population has gone nuts out here but the main arteries have remained the same = congestion.

Well that's my version of events, I'm sure everyones will be different but the West Gate Bridge and it's surrounding roads need to be relocated to Alpha Centauri.

Point Cook is a great example of poor infrastructure planning but bulk development, one road in and out of the joint but residential streets feeding in everywhere, they advertise it as '20 minutes to the city'

20 minutes to the city at 3AM Sunday morning, peak hour Monday-Friday 1 hour plus

Northern Suburbs are somewhat lucky, the development has been very slow out North, its only building up steadily now, South East and West - massive growth:

[Ben73]

Anyone buying in the new suburb should be forced to sign a legal document saying they know there is a racetrack nearby and cannot complain about it.

I was surprised when a racetrack was just approved just south west of Newcastle. I think it was an old mime site which is a good place for a racetrack. Blackrock motor park I think it’s called and is in the suburb of Wakefield. I can’t wait to see it up and running

[cs123]

I've gotta give Kudos to the people who have kept Lakeside Raceway operational.

Local council was going to kill it but these guys fought hard and continue to do battle with the council and developers.

[Vesper Martini]

Yes growing at a rapid rate, where the infrastructure is an afterthought
I just don't like the idea of building congested housing way out in places like Clyde North.
when there's so much land available closer in. PS there is a Sandown train station

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

PS there is a Sandown train station

Yes there is, and not too far away - my bad. It was in the news actually when they were talking about the now finished SKYRAIL project a couple of years ago. Weren't they thinking of building an ugly major multistorey carpark there.

Anyways.....

[Franco Cozzo]

The thing with apartments is its an entry level into the housing market, you can get 1 bedroom apartments in Southbank for circa $500K where you walk out your apartment complex and you're literally right in the action of Melbourne CBD:



The entire suburb is only 1.7km2 and it has nearly 20,000 people living there.

Kensington is gentrifying where I work, 1 bedroom apartment with car parks are just under $400K and you're only 3KM out of Melbourne CBD (like 30 minutes drive lol).

[Citroënbender]

Is it just me, or do you look at those buildings and think of dominos?

Not a fan of high rise living, love my space.

Surely the apposite development for Sandown would have been a requirement for everyone to live in autonomous motorhomes, that slowly yet constantly circuited the track, parking and pits?

[Franco Cozzo]

I'm not fussed about space, I live in boganistan on the rural fringe of Melbourne, the town next along they're building 350-400m2 property estates, who the hell wants to live in the middle of nowhere on such a tiny property?

People always roll out the noisy neighbours things in apartments but the entire estate I'm in the smallest property is 1300m2, there's 5 of us in the court with loud modified V8 cars, everyone has the worlds yappiest dogs that bark all night, there is one bogan family that throws parties with music so loud half the estate can hear it, had my new neighbours ride a dirt bike in their back yard at 3AM on one occasion.

The problem is you have a little bit of land but now you've got a decent patch of grass (weeds) to mow, garden to maintain but you still have neighbors close by who get upset when you fart outside, everyone's a nosey flog who knows your business before you even do, I've had someone in my driveway staring at my car, another knob from up the street looking through our 6x4 trailer to see what we're throwing out, had a fight over my car starting at 5AM with someone else (which is funny because his direct neighbor now daily drives a 1960s Impala thats way louder than my car)

Then there is the lack of services, the next town with decent shops is 30km down the road so you have to shop there if you want more than beer, bread and milk.

The best thing thats happened in 25 years is we got NBN 10 years after it was announced and rego is $100 cheaper than Melbourne metro

Whats the worst thing that happens in apartments? Noisy rooters, someone taking a crap at 3AM and flushing the toilet or the lift flogs out and you have to walk up 600 flights of stairs where you meet your neighbour for the first time in 30 years and you ignore each other as you walk past, you walk out the door and you become one of the other faceless 5 million people in Melbourne.

[Citroënbender]

Chemsex hookups (8+ hours of noisy bonking) in apartments, subwoofers, constant renos, predictable domestics, special levies, guerilla parking, no room for expansive hobbies and no tolerance of noisy ones, no thanks.