Bundoora Developments Reshape Local Job and Talent Market

Commercial approvals reached $46.1 million in Bundoora this year, coinciding with staged projects expected to add thousands of positions and attract specialised talent through new innovation facilities.

University Hill and Polaris projects drive employment growth

MAB Corporation is delivering its billion-dollar University Hill development on Plenty Road and the Metropolitan Ring Road in a 10-year staged plan that is projected to generate over 3,500 jobs. The $500 million Polaris 3083 hub at the former Larundel Hospital site sits 80 percent complete, with final homes now for sale and a retail complex plus town centre already supporting local commercial activity alongside more than 1,100 dwellings.

These projects sit within La Trobe University’s 235-hectare campus transformation, a $5 billion master plan that will create housing for 15,000 residents and new commercial precincts over 30 years. A rezoned former quarry site at 149 McKimmies Road has also received approval for 730 homes that include 10 percent affordable housing, adding further construction and service roles.

Innovation facilities expand the talent pipeline

La Trobe University’s $23 million Digital and Bio Innovation Hubs in the refurbished Thomas Cherry Building already support up to 10 companies and 40 staff at any time while creating 170 jobs in bio and digital technology fields. The Bundoora Technical Development Centre operates as Nuton’s innovation hub with a partnership involving Rio Tinto, while a separate $10 million government investment has opened new agriculture research glasshouses at the university.

These anchors are drawing pharmaceutical and technology firms that require specialised staff, complementing the broader residential and retail growth. A $170 million health innovation investment includes a new four-level Clinical Teaching Building under construction by Kane Constructions.

Continued master-plan delivery and hub operations will sustain demand for construction, research and service roles while the projects remain active over the coming decade.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.