Find out how the old factory site will transform into a new neighbourhood with shops, offices, open spaces and community facilities.

Update on the Alphington Papermill site

On 11 March 2025 Council issued a Planning Permit (PLN21/0966) for the Riverbank Precinct of the Alphington Paper Mills site that allows for removal and lopping of vegetation and works, including paths and trails. 

The permit also allows full remediation of the land, and replacement landscaping and vegetation. The permit includes substantial conditions relating to the management of the land remediation and riverbank slumping, as well as detailed vegetation and landscaping requirements.

The subject site is located at the southern end of the Amcor site. The Yarra River corridor abuts the site’s southern boundary. The part of the site involved in this application is located within a 30m strip of land located directly adjacent to the Yarra River, extending from the Chandler Highway bridge to Parkview Road in Alphington.

Further details of the proposal are as follows:

• The removal of 86 trees, with a further 38 trees to be reviewed and potentially removed.
• Remediation works to remove contaminated sections of land;
• Site works, including works to manage groundwater and potential slumping, stabilisation of the riverbank and management of soil erosion; and
• Re-establishment of vegetation and landscaping.

As a consequence of the previous uses across the Amcor site, a substantial extent of asbestos has been identified throughout the soil, with this asbestos primarily located in the southwestern region adjacent to the riverbank. Testing has confirmed asbestos is present to a depth of around 2m, with multiple investigations identifying asbestos contamination across the site in sufficient quantities to constitute risks to residential uses.

To complete the required remediation and riverbank works, a significant number of existing trees within the riverbank area require removal. In order to remediate the riverbank, works will require the removal of asbestos and installation of 0.5-2m thick layer of clean fill to isolate any remaining asbestos.

Throughout investigations into the proposed works, it was identified that tree removal and soil remediation may result in landslide risks, riverbank slumping and riverbank stability issues, with instances of slumping already evident along the existing river path. Conditions have been incorporated into the planning permit to ensure adequate mitigation measures will be undertaken to manage these potential impacts.

Detailed conditions regarding revegetation, landscaping and management of the riverbank works have also been incorporated into the planning permit.

The past

The Alphington Paper Mill site is a 16.5-hectare parcel of land on the corner of Heidelberg Road and the Chandler Highway and extending down to the Yarra River.

Amcor ceased its paper production and recycling operations at the site in late 2012 and sold the land in 2013. The Victorian Government subsequently changed the planning controls over the site. It set new rules on how the land can be used, while retaining the mixed-use zoning of the site.

The new Development Plan Overlay (DPO) sets the framework for future works. It allows for a major residential and commercial redevelopment of the old paper mill site.

The future

The new owners of the site, joint developers Alphington Developments and Alpha Partners, drafted a vision for the future: a new mini-suburb of up to 2,500 homes catering for some 5,000 residents, as well as commercial and retail spaces that will provide local employment.

Yarra Council approved the plan in December 2015 after more than 18 months of community consultation and engagement.

What will the new site look like?

• 4.5% open space
• 1,700 square metres of community facilities and multi-purpose sports court
• a 30 metre wide buffer to the Yarra River
• 5% affordable housing
• 13,500 square meters of retail and commercial floor space
• around 2,500 town houses and apartments

Read the Development Plan

Design and Development Principles [ PDF, 511.44 KB] Yarra Council's principles were developed with the community and provide a guide for developers.

Development Plan Overlay [ PDF, 368.56 KB] The Victorian Government sets out specific conditions, including building heights and setbacks, for future developments.

AMCOR - Alphington Paper Mills Development Plan Vol. 1 endorsed May 2016 [ PDF, 30.3 MB]

AMCOR - Alphington Paper Mills Development Plan Vol. 2 supporting document endorsed May 2016 [ PDF, 73.46 MB]

View permits, plans and reports

Current applications

You need a planning permit if you want to build, develop or renovate anything on the Alphington Paper Mill site. Under the DPO schedule planning applications are not publicly advertised.