Five key sites have finally been opened for developers to submit bids as Development Victoria’s Junction Place project at Wodonga moves ahead.
The government has now opened the expressions-of-interest process for the sites with a preferred developer to be selected by the end of the year.
“We are looking for developers passionate about making a positive impact in Wodonga, one of regional Victoria’s fastest-growing cities,” Development Victoria group head of precincts Niall Cunningham said.
“We want developers to come forward with their best proposals to enhance the precinct further.”
An initial registration-of-interest process held earlier in 2023 received interest from local, Victorian and interstate developers.
The sites in the northern Victorian regional city cover nearly 50,000sq m of land available for mixed-use development including commercial, retail, entertainment, health, medical facilities, and restaurants and cafes as potential uses.
Work has already been carried out on redeveloping parts of central Wodonga, including redeveloping the historic Junction Place railway station site.
The Victorian and federal governments have invested more than $30 million in the project to create public spaces and food and beverage offerings such as Junction Square, Sidings Park and Richardson Park.
A Precinct Framework Plan was developed in 2012—in 2015 and 2016 Development Victoria worked with the City of Wodonga to deliver early infrastructure.
In 2016, Development Victoria struck a deal with a private developer to deliver the next phase but after community and the City of Wodonga Council feedback in 2021, work did not proceed.
That developer is no longer a project partner.
Junction Place is Australia’s largest regional urban-renewal project with the aim to double the size of Wodonga’s CBD.
It is estimated to create more than 1000 jobs and to boost the city’s economic growth.
The expressions-of-interest process closes on Monday, August 21.
