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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

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.

That's exactly the point i was trying to make ( albeit ghetto facade ) congested Terrace style housing in the outer burbs - an area that was never planned on or meant to have that style of inner city gentrification and appeal...... No rail / tram infrastructure within walking distance, no strategy or incentive to employ locally to ensure long term traffic management. Leafy green burbs turned into overpriced sardine tins. Imagine the pressure on the grid with this entire suburban "city" microcosm of overcongestion when everyone decides they want an electric car per family member... lols.

The point i'm trying to make is that there is room and logic for everything in doses... we are overdosing in the burbs.

[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

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

That's exactly the point i was trying to make ( albeit ghetto facade ) congested Terrace style housing in the outer burbs - an area that was never planned on or meant to have that style of inner city gentrification and appeal...... No rail / tram infrastructure within walking distance, no strategy or incentive to employ locally to ensure long term traffic management. Leafy green burbs turned into overpriced sardine tins. Imagine the pressure on the grid with this entire suburban "city" microcosm of overcongestion when everyone decides they want an electric car per family member... lols.

The point i'm trying to make is that there is room and logic for everything in doses... we are overdosing in the burbs.

Correct in bold, Sydney incl.
Councils being greedy selling to developers who knock down 1 home but build 2 3 or 4 storey apartment living is ridiculous.
Ridiculous due to the fact that incurs more cars on the same roads, the local hospitals are old/outdated and maxxed out and the local infrastructure isn't updated - great planning........


Citroënbender - your post re driving round Sydney, how often do you get to Melb ?
I been travelling there for decades and to date, it used to be good but not anymore, its a nightmare no diff to Sydney now, Melb's pop increase and soon more than Sydney will make it worse in the future....they can have highest pop bragging rights finally with pleasure.
Bris has become a right royal PIA in peak traffic as well today.

Sorry seeing Sandown go but not surprised, just as Oran Park AND Amaroo Park back in the day.
Migrants want to be around the cities BUT I don't get why with so much struggle in Regional Oz we don't have this as an option first up.

[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.....

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

That's exactly the point i was trying to make ( albeit ghetto facade ) congested Terrace style housing in the outer burbs - an area that was never planned on or meant to have that style of inner city gentrification and appeal...... No rail / tram infrastructure within walking distance, no strategy or incentive to employ locally to ensure long term traffic management. Leafy green burbs turned into overpriced sardine tins. Imagine the pressure on the grid with this entire suburban "city" microcosm of overcongestion when everyone decides they want an electric car per family member... lols.

The point i'm trying to make is that there is room and logic for everything in doses... we are overdosing in the burbs.

This is so true. I live in a new estate and you can see the exact street where the estate owners relaxed their rules to earn more money.
Old part of the estate has nicely designed, freestanding houses with nicely designed, well maintained front gardens. Most people park in their garage or large driveway. Streets only have a few cars parked on them.

In contrast the newest part of the estate has more duplexes than houses. No one can fit their cars in the single garages so they squeeze one car in the driveway and rest on the street. Most of the freestanding houses have boring cheap facades, half the houses have cheap and badly maintained front gardens.
Every street is lined with cars, you can barely fit a single car down the middle of the street. I have seen garbage truck drivers either beep the horn until people move their cars, knock on doors or just give up reverse out of the street many times.
You can step from one roof to the next because every house is built as close to the fence as allowed.
The public transport is garbage so everyone uses cars all the time since there is no where to walk to on the suburbs.
A few small apartment complexes have been knocked back by council due to residents complaints about traffic and parking concerns

I avoid walking my dogs in the new part of the estate because it’s a downer. I walk through the old part with it’s nice atmosphere.

I’m still thinking about moving even though I think my house fantastic.

Sorry about my rant it’s frustrating seeing a nice area go to ****.

[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.

[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:

[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).