After seven years of heated debate, protests, and planning back-and-forth, the future of the old ABC studios site in Elsternwick has finally been decided—and it’s set to change the face of media in a big way.

The government has given the green light to a major development: two residential towers, 148 apartments, and a brand-new Woolworths, all rising above the historic street site.

But as with any big change, not everyone is happy. Let’s unpack what’s happened, why it matters, and what it could mean for locals and the broader community.

The journey to this decision has been anything but smooth. Woolworths and its developer, Pace, first proposed a large-scale development in 2017.

Their initial proposal was rejected by both the Glen Eira City Council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), which cited concerns about the impact on Glen Huntly Road’s heritage character, privacy for neighbours, and the potential for increased traffic congestion.

A controversial development on the former Elsternwick ABC site was approved, allowing two towers above a new Woolworths despite opposition from Glen Eira Council and locals. Credit: Woolworths

A revised plan for 134 apartments across nine storeys was eventually approved in 2022. But Woolworths wasn’t done yet.

Using new state government 'fast-track' planning laws—designed to speed up housing construction and bypass some of the usual red tape—they returned with a bigger vision: 148 apartments in two towers, one reaching 11 storeys and the other 10.

The state government’s 'development facilitation program' is part of a broader push to address Victoria’s housing crisis.

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Projects valued at over $50 million and including at least 10 per cent of affordable housing can be assessed under this program, which means they can skip some of the usual hurdles, like council approval and VCAT review.

Elsternwick was also recently declared one of Melbourne’s 50 'train and tram activity centres'—areas earmarked for higher-density housing close to public transport, with the goal of building 300,000 new homes by 2051.

The thinking is simple: more homes where people can easily get around without a car.

A major redevelopment is planned for the old ABC site, featuring two residential towers with 148 apartments—at least 10 per cent earmarked as affordable housing.

The project will also include a Woolworths, retail and office spaces, community areas, over 400 car parks, and sits conveniently near public transport and local landmarks.

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Not everyone is celebrating. Glen Eira mayor Simone Zmood has been vocal in her opposition, calling the decision a 'setback for the community.'

She’s particularly concerned that the new approval overrides VCAT’s previous ruling on building heights and residential impacts and that the fast-track process lacks independent oversight.

Zmood and other critics argue that the government should have set up an advisory committee to give residents a real say and that key issues—like minimising disruption from construction trucks—haven’t been properly addressed.

There’s also frustration that the council still doesn’t know exactly how Elsternwick’s new status as an 'activity centre' will reshape the area.

The development has split locals. In March, about 100 people—including opposition politicians—protested against the project, worried it would set a precedent for bypassing local input and VCAT authority.

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But not everyone is against it. A handful of residents showed up to the protest with signs reading 'Let others live here too' and 'Don’t be selfish, share Elsternwick,' highlighting the need for more housing in a city facing a severe shortage.

This project is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Since expanding the development facilitation program in September 2023, the Victorian government says it has approved nearly 5,000 new homes under the scheme.

The aim is to tackle the housing crisis head-on by building more homes faster, especially in well-connected areas.

But the debate in Elsternwick raises important questions: How do we balance the need for more housing with the desire to preserve neighbourhood character? Who gets to have a say in shaping our suburbs? And how do we make sure new developments actually benefit the whole community, not just developers or big retailers?

If you live in or around Elsternwick, you can expect some big changes in the coming years.

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More people, more traffic, and a new supermarket will be on your doorstep. For some, that means more convenience and vibrancy; for others, it’s a loss of the area’s traditional feel.

This could be a sign of things to come for those elsewhere in Melbourne. Similar developments may pop up in other suburbs as the government pushes for higher-density living near public transport.

Key Takeaways

• The Victorian Planning Minister has approved a controversial development on the former Elsternwick ABC studios site, allowing two towers with 148 apartments and up to 11 storeys above a new Woolworths, despite ongoing opposition from Glen Eira Council and some locals.
• The approval was granted under the state government’s fast-track 'development facilitation program', bypassing local council and VCAT processes, which has raised concerns about the lack of independent oversight and diminished community input.
• Council and residents have criticised the decision for ignoring previous rulings on height and residential impacts and failing to address issues such as truck haulage and heritage concerns, with frustration expressed at the lack of meaningful design changes and consultation.
• The development will deliver a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments above retail and community spaces and is positioned within an area targeted for higher-density housing near public transport as part of Melbourne’s broader strategy to build 300,000 new homes by 2051.

Do you think the government made the right call? Are you worried about the impact on local heritage and traffic, or do you welcome more housing and new amenities? Have you seen similar projects in your area? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Read more: 'I wonder if someone designed it as a joke': Aussies notice interesting detail on this property development

 

[magpie1]

Maybe the Council and the residents should talk to Albonese about STOPPING his immigration program into our Country until we can sort out our Homeless situation....Melbourne is a popular destination for immigrants and there are many local Australians looking for somewhere to live including adults with children, single men and women and couples also. In order to accommodate all of these unfortunate, desperate people many new homes and apartment blocks are needed to be built with everyday facilities close at hand. It is going to be an ongoing problem but sorting out the current situation must start somewhere....we must look to the future and attack the current shortages wherever we can.

 

[DLHM]

It’s been my experience that once a decision has been made to change comfortable residential neighbourhoods into high density apartments, residents have no say.

Sure, there’ll be (patronising) public meetings where those interested can air their views, but the decision has already been made. No choice for the common people; just a lose-lose situation.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Have a go at the faux rich bitches crying in their $50 lattes. With surrounding cesspools of suburbs such as St Kilda, Bentleigh, Brighton and Caulfield, all these arsewipes are worried about is their property values. There should be an injecting clinic and high density housing for African immigrants set up so they grovel further into their own self importance.

The crime in this area far exceeds that of Dandenong, supposedly one of Melbourne's worst suburbs. HA!

 

[7777]

In the western suburbs, a row of houses that where buit before my time and have several generations occupying their homes, were told by building developers that they need to leave their houses, as their houses were going to be demolished, and that they would get a reasonable sum of money to find residence elsewhere. These are elderly people who have lived all their lives in a house and area they call home. The purpose for having all the houses demolished was so that the railway tracks behind the row of houses, could be widened a small fraction. Once the railway tracks were sorted out, the entire suburb were shocked, with disbelief of what happened next. On the vast remaining land where the houses where demolished, building developers began to build so many town houses on the land. When the residence were told to leave, there was absolutely no mention of any new town houses to be built. Why didn't the developers, who purchased the remaining land where the houses were demolished, offer the original residents the option of relocating in these new town houses. But no, the elderly residence where so coldly told, to leave, and find another house and area to live in, whilst the developers reaped the mega profits of their newly built town houses. This is a low and disgusting act on behalf of the company and developers, who told the elderly residents that they must leave their houses. If there was sufficient land to build new townhouses, after the railway tracks were altered by a fraction, then the houses should not have been demolished, and the elderly residence told to leave the houses that they all grew up in. God bless,