Melbourne to have Eco Suburb (SMH)

Plan to build stadium in eco-suburb

• David Rood
• May 1, 2009

What does a State Government do when its thinking about putting a "boutique" 40,000-seat stadium and an eco-suburb of the future on the same inner-city site?

It entertains both ideas but doesn't actually commit to either.

Next week's Victorian budget will commit $2 million to a feasibility study into the stadium, which would be located at E-Gate, just off Footscray Road in the Docklands.

But in February, Major Projects Minister Tim Pallas announced the Brumby Government would consider building an environmentally friendly suburb that would reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent on the same site.

Yesterday, Sports Minister James Merlino said the feasibility study would examine putting social and residential housing on the site as well as a new football stadium.

"There's a strong argument for a boutique stadium for Melbourne," he said.

"One of our great strengths is when we host major events ... you don't have to drive an hour away from the CBD."

But can an eco-friendly suburb, which has been proposed with a ban on cars, be built alongside a sporting stadium?

"That's what the feasibility study is going to look at," Mr Merlino said.

When launching the proposal for the eco-suburb in February, Mr Pallas said ecologically sustainable development "is no longer considered an optional extra but a necessity".

Located close to Ehitad Stadium, the 20-hectare site is owned by the Government body VicTrack, which owns the state's rail assets. The lease expires in 2014.

The feasibility study will be managed by Minister Pallas and is expected to take up to two years.