We are delighted to have officially commenced construction at New Epping – our $2 billion community in Melbourne’s north. To mark the occasion, we celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by The Hon. Richard Wynne, Minister for Housing and Minister for Planning along with our project partners. The event saw Stage 1 works kick off which encompass the $133 million 126-bed Northern Private Hospital to be operated by Ramsay Health Care along with the Stage 1 residences, featuring social and affordable housing to be operated by Haven; Home, Safe.

Spanning 51-hectares, the project is set to become a vibrant city in the suburbs which will see the rehabilitation and development of the former Epping Quarry into a mixed-use precinct featuring health, residential and commercial uses.

To be developed over a 10-to-15-year period, the plan for New Epping is one of the most ambitious urban renewal projects ever seen in Australia, providing $4.7 billion in economic benefit to Victoria as well as 5,000 jobs during construction and catering for more than 3,100 people to work on site.

Riverlee development director David Lee says this milestone is significant for the community in Melbourne’s north, positioning Epping as the centre of activity in the region, following collaboration with the City of Whittlesea, state government and project partners.

“Together with our project partners, local council and the state government, we are excited to be commencing Stage 1 at New Epping – a project that will play a huge role in meeting the healthcare and housing demands of this growing area. The diverse mix of housing, health and commercial uses will create a vibrant culture and community with a focus on wellness and sustainability.”

“Our vision for New Epping will take urban regeneration to a new level and bring an inner-city offering to the suburbs. The site no doubt has its challenges and we thank the state government for recognising the needs of this region by fast-tracking the work under the Building Victoria Recovery Taskforce,” he says.

Minister for Housing Richard Wynne says, “The private sector has an important role to play in the development of more social housing for Victorians – this is an example of that partnership delivering real benefits for the community.” In addition to the Stage 1 residences and the new Northern Private Hospital, the works include key supporting infrastructure including the development of the 11ha central green spine that will connect all components within New Epping.

Estimated completion dates for the Stage 1 residences and the Northern Private Hospital are May 2022 and December 2023 respectively.