Meriton’s Pagewood Green gains big tick

Source: The Daily Telegraph
The Southern Courier
Author: Steven Deare, Southern Courier

Harry Triguboff’s Meriton Group has gained an important tick of approval for its plans to build 2,015 homes at the former British American Tobacco site at Eastgardens.

About 800 homes have been built and are occupied at the site, which Meriton calls Pagewood Green, while another 900 are being built.

The buildings will range from two-storey townhouses to 20-storey towers. There will also be two hectares of open space.

The councillors also unanimously voted for Meriton’s voluntary planning agreement (VPA), which accompanies its rezoning proposal.

Meriton would make monetary and other contributions to ensure the area can cope with a significant number of new residents.

This would include $23.9 million for the council to upgrade Botany Aquatic Centre.

Meriton would also contribute to improvements at Hensley Athletic Field, provide the council with up to 50 homes for affordable housing, and open space.

Meriton executive manager, planning and government, said the site would go from being an isolated industrial complex to a vibrant community.

He said an 8000 sqm central park, part of the early stages of Pagewood Green, would be finished in about a month.

While the councillors voted to support the rezoning and VPA, the Department of Planning will have the final say.

The department has supported earlier iterations of the plans.

Councillors and staff were critical of Meriton’s earlier plans for the site, which have been revised.

The councillors’ decision included informing Meriton that it must make changes to building design and address traffic issues in its subsequent development applications.

Meriton is providing funding for the intersection of Page and Wentworth streets to be upgraded as part of its contributions.

Councillors Ed McDougall and Michael Nagi did not vote in the Meriton matters due to possible conflicts of interest.