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Bundoora Residents Divided as Split Across Three Councils Shapes Planning
Bundoora residents weigh in on planning outcomes shaped by the suburb's split across three councils.
How we reported this
City of Whittlesea recorded 49 planning applications in Bundoora during 2025-2026, with 26 approved, zero refused and a median processing time of 41 days for decided cases.
Bundoora sits across Whittlesea, Banyule and Darebin local government areas, so property owners must direct inquiries to the correct council depending on exact location. The division means separate planning rules apply within the same postcode, affecting how quickly proposals move forward and what conditions attach to approvals.
Rezoning at McKimmies Road draws local attention
Whittlesea Council endorsed a December 2024 rezoning of former quarry land at 149 McKimmies Road to allow roughly 730 new homes. The plan includes requirements for 5 per cent social housing and 10 per cent affordable housing. Neighbours near the site have followed the change because it alters the industrial character of the immediate area and sets the scale of future traffic and services.
Plenty Road and Crissane Road proposals also under scrutiny
A mixed-use project at 1056-1140 Plenty Road was called in by the Minister for Planning in March 2025 and sent to the Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee, which held a public hearing in May 2025. Separately, a permit for a research and development centre at 44 Crissane Road was granted in March 2024 after adjustments to car parking and vegetation removal. Residents living near these addresses track each step because outcomes determine building heights, parking supply and open-space provisions on their streets.
Community members note that approval rates and processing times vary by council, so the same type of application can receive different treatment depending on which of the three authorities handles it. They point to the need to confirm the correct local government area before lodging feedback or checking application status.
Anyone wanting to follow current proposals can locate the relevant council using the property address and review documents on the Whittlesea, Banyule or Darebin planning portals. Updates on major projects such as the McKimmies Road rezoning appear in council meeting agendas.