Mirvac To Deliver $2.5b New Mega Suburb

Melbourne's newest liveable suburb, Rockbank North that will house 20,000 residents has been announced today by the Victorian state government.

Mirvac will develop the 711 hectare site into a 7000-lot estate that will reportedly have an end value of $2.5 billion.

Rockbank is located 29 kilometres from the CBD on the Western Freeway and close to Rockbank railway station.

"Projects like Rockbank North are about creating liveable communities and 20-minute neighbourhoods where residents have easy access to shops, schools, community services, parks and jobs." Minister for Planning Matthew Guy said.

Rockbank North estate will include two town centres, childcare facilities, two pre-schools, three primary schools, a high school, maternal child health services, community facilities including a public library, a vocational training facility, 190 hectares of parkland and green space, as well as a substantial commercial district.

"This new suburb demonstrates the principles of this government's metropolitan planning strategy Plan Melbourne." Mr Guy said.

Mirvac were reportedly forced to shelve its plans in 2008 after the former Labor Brumby government objected to its plans for the development.

When fully developed, Rockbank North will include neighbourhoods interlinked by cycling trails, walking tracks and parks, with more than 30 per cent of the development dedicated to open public space.

Members for Western Metropolitan Region Bernie Finn MLC and Andrew Elsbury MLC both praised the opportunities created through the Rockbank project.

"This development is further proof of the Napthine Government's commitment to providing services to residents of Melbourne's west," Mr Finn said.

"As a resident of the western suburbs for my entire life I'm proud that through developments like this we can provide fantastic places for people to live, work and learn," Mr Elsbury said.

Construction of the project will kick off shortly, and associated works are expected to contribute around $2.25 billion into the state economy over the next 15 to 20 years.