Introduction

Merri-bek Council is proposing to build ~1000 homes on council-owned land in central Coburg, next to trains, trams, multiple bus routes and every type of infrastructure and service imaginable. This is excellent news for thousands who will get to live here and for housing supply more generally.

Unfortunately, this has run into heavy opposition, with the main NIMBY talking point being a supposed lack of parking despite council proposing to build several multi-storey carparks. The plan is barely financially viable as is - adding the expense of more parking could kill housing for thousands.

Formal consultation is going on until December 18th, online consultation activities can be found here, together with more information on the project; Online feedback | Coburg is Here | Conversations Merri-bek

Submissions should be emailed to centralcoburg@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

Councillors won’t be considering the plans until next year, so if you miss the December 18th timeline, you can email them personally with your feedback (see below).

Guide to writing your submission - short and simple is best!

1. Introduce yourself; who you are as a person (young person, parent, renter…) and what connection or interest you have in the area.
2. State that you support more housing in Central Coburg and why you support housing here.
3. Make sure to reject scrapping or undermining the viability of the project for more parking - 900 parking spaces are already proposed to be built!
4. Email your submission to your local councillor if you have one. Find your councillor and their email here; Mayors and Councillors
5. Finally, be nice! Council is the good guy here: we’re trying to help them fight off the NIMBYs.

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