A CONTROVERSIAL plan to redevelop the former Kingswood Golf Course site in Dingley Village has been approved by planning minister Sonya Kilkenny.
The proposal has been in the works for years; redevelopment plans presented by former site owner AustralianSuper in 2018 received a whopping 8000 community objections. The site was eventually purchased by developer Satterley, which unveiled plans to build 941 residential lots on the land earlier this year.
In 2023, Kilkenny announced that the site had been rezoned for housing. In an announcement released late Friday, 17 October, she confirmed that Satterley’s plans had been approved. “We’re unlocking underutilised land to deliver more homes and create new opportunities for people in Melbourne’s south-east,” Kilkenny said. “The only way to make housing fairer for young Victorians is to build more homes faster – this is exactly why we’ve been overhauling our planning system because the status quo is not an option.”
In a statement, the state government said that the proposal “will deliver at least 10 per cent affordable housing, with 20 per cent of the site dedicated to green open space – creating almost 10 hectares of new parks, playgrounds and trails for residents to enjoy.”
“Backed by extensive community consultation with locals, Kingston Council and relevant agencies, the development plan sets out key environmental protections to preserve the area, with hundreds of trees to be retained and thousands of new trees to be planted – creating a comfortable place to live for future residents,” the state government statement read. “The Development Plan also incorporates recommendations made by Kingston Council, including the management of trees, subdivisions and the staging of infrastructure to support the new homes.”
Kingston Council made a submission to the state government detailing its serious concerns about the development plans. Kingston Council was informed that its planning authority over the site had been removed in April, prompting Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley to say “we are extremely disappointed that this change was made without consultation or impact assessment.”
“We have a significant track record of supporting well-planned growth – but it must be planned properly to respect local values, protect the environment and deliver the infrastructure and services needed,” Oxley said. (“Golf course housing plans lack vision” The News 5/7/2025)
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 22 October 2025