Development

There are a number of developments taking place throughout Footscray, and we are working to improve infrastructure and the public realm throughout the suburb.  

Council understands that empty shopfronts and derelict buildings can have a negative impact on both the public realm and visitation to the area more broadly.

We understand community members and businesses are keen for Council to compel landowners to demolish derelict buildings, however Council's powers in this space are very limited. Under the Building Act 1993 we can require landowners to demolish buildings when they are unsafe, but not when they look unpleasant.

We have been working with private landowners to provide temporary activation of their sites until they are ready to redevelop. We’ve had success in having the former Little Saigon Market (Byron Street) site and former Paint Spot site (Buckley Street) demolished, and we are working with the owner of the former Forges site (Albert Street) to commence demolition of their site and to activate it with development or some other temporary uses.