Housing towers demolition decided before consultation

Court action has started over plans to demolish public housing towers in Melbourne. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Residents in public housing towers earmarked for demolition were not consulted until after the government announced plans to level their homes, a court has been told.

A Supreme Court class action against Homes Victoria, led by a resident of one of three towers slated for destruction in Carlton, Flemington and North Melbourne began on Monday.

Plans to demolish 44 public housing towers were announced by former premier Daniel Andrews as part of the Labor government's policy in September 2023, before any mention had been made to residents, Homes Victoria chief executive Simon Newport said.

Mr Newport said informing residents of the decision, why it had been made and how it would impact them was a priority.

Public housing tower in North Melbourne
The government has a contract with construction company John Holland to tear down three towers.

Homes Victoria then engaged in community consultation, including an open forum led by Mr Newport.

"That was something which we were doing immediately after the announcement," he said.

Two of the three public housing towers, in North Melbourne and Flemington, were infamously locked down during a COVID-19 outbreak in July 2020, later found by the Victorian Ombudsman to have breached the human rights of residents.

Mr Newport admitted he had taken into account residents who had lived through the towers lockdown would be sensitive to the government making another unilateral, unannounced decision about their homes.

"I specifically remember mentioning the fact that there wouldn't be a lot of trust from the people after the lockdowns," he said.

Mr Newport said an option to refurbish the towers was not feasible and would have been equally or more disruptive to residents, who would have to be relocated in either case.

"So for me, it was one and the same," he said.

"We had to make sure that we looked after the people in the towers."

Homes Victoria's defence has refused to share technical documents behind the decision because it said it would reveal the deliberations of cabinet, which are protected under law.

The approach frustrated Supreme Court Justice Melinda Richards.

"It was Homes Victoria generating the policy proposal, and it's not explained to me or anybody else any of the detail that has informed it," Justice Richards said. 

"Including some really important technical judgments that had to be made about whether retrofitting was feasible. 

"Now I'm just really surprised that the decision is being defended without attempting to explain the substance of it."

The government in August signed a contract with construction company John Holland to tear down the three towers despite the class action suit.

The court heard the contract was valued at about $100 million.

The matter continues on Tuesday.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store