About the project
We are planning to transform land between Burwood Highway and Lewis Park (next to Westfield Knox) to create a new ‘Heart of Knox’ – a community precinct where people can live, work and play.
The development will deliver green open spaces that connect with the area’s natural environment, higher-density housing and civic and community facilities.
Council owns around 9 hectares of land between Burwood Highway and Blind Creek. The site could accommodate 3,000 to 5,000 future residents. Council will explore opportunities to include social and affordable housing as part of the development. We are planning for services to support the growing community.
Project area
Cultural heritage
The site is on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. Council is working with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation throughout the project.
We prepared a Cultural Heritage Management Plan to identify, manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage values during development. The Registered Aboriginal Party approved this plan.
Trees and vegetation
Council will protect 2 habitat zones from development and consider areas of remaining vegetation and biological significance during planning.
We will prioritise keeping healthy trees where possible and planting climate-resilient, ecologically sensitive species.
What we want for Knox Central
- Create an attractive centre that connects with the natural environment.
- Improve Lewis Park and Blind Creek, including better connections to nearby areas and open spaces for the community.
- Deliver high-quality buildings and public spaces.
- Strengthen Knox Central as a place where the community can meet, connect and spend time together.
- Create new and improved community spaces
- Provide more housing opportunities close to:
- shops
- public transport
- leisure activities
- open space.
Our work so far
To support future development in this area, Council has made important decisions and investments over the past 10 years.
These include:
- buying key areas of land from Westfield
- moving the Knox City Council Operations Centre to Henderson Road in Knoxfield
- supporting the relocation of the State Emergency Service (SES) to Victorian Government land
- investing $4.45 million in the new Knox Library and Youth Hive at Westfield Knox
- adopting the Lewis Park Masterplan to guide future investment in sports grounds, recreation spaces and open space for the growing community
- working with Melbourne Water to build wetlands in Lewis Park and restore Blind Creek. Council contributed $3.5 million, Melbourne Water contributed $11.1 million and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) contributed $2.5 million. The project will improve water quality and create a healthier natural environment.
Project status
The project is currently in the planning phase. We expect this phase to take about 4 to 5 years before we move into design and development.
Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will:
- complete an arts and cultural needs assessment
- complete a high-level civic, customer and community needs assessment
- find out how changing ways of working and customer service affect how much office space is needed
- explore which community services and activities work best when they are located together in the Knox Central Precinct.
Development in the civic and community precinct is not expected to start for about 8 to 10 years. It depends on several Council decisions over the next 5 years and on securing funding through the sale of Council land.
Have your say
We will invite the community to share feedback at key stages of the project as it progresses.
You can stay up to date and get involved by following the Have Your Say page.
