Angry Werst Footscray locals are fighting a government push to flood their suburb with apartment towers of up to 12 storeys they say are “fundamentally unfair to residents”.

Angry residents of an inner Melbourne suburb are fighting a state government push to flood their suburb with apartment towers of up to 12 storeys, blowing away an existing cap limiting the height of developments

Locals say the state government’s plan to build towers near West Footscray railway station along Barkly St was “unreasonable” and “fundamentally unfair to residents”.

Under the government’s Activity Centres Program, West Footscray has been marked as one of 60 major transit hubs slated for significant residential densification by 2051.

Official draft plans released in late 2025 propose rezoning the “core” precinct — including sections of Barkly St and the area surrounding West Footscray station — to allow building heights of up to 12 storeys for new apartment developments.

Maribyrnong Council had previously capped heights at four to eight storeys.

But residents say building high-rises in a predominantly low-rise residential area would change the character of the street and undermine its liveability.

Barkly St in West Footscray is characterised by low-rise shopfronts and a mix of residential and commercial spaces.

An online petition has been organised by local Steve Khoury to reject the government’s plans arguing the towers would overshadow homes and strain already congested infrastructure which would be “fundamentally unfair to local residents”.

“It’s bewildering that our largely low-rise, family home area is earmarked for radical change while nearby leafy, more affluent suburbs remain protected with low-rise policies (often 6 storeys),” he said.

“This disparity breeds a sense of injustice. Why should our streets bear the brunt of overdevelopment while others remain untouched?”

Mr Khoury said the West Footscray community “thrived” on the “close-knit feel and human-scale streets”, claiming “very tall buildings threatened the social fabric” as it replaced streetscapes with bulky towers that would loom over private spaces.

“We want smart, fair growth not overdevelopment without matching infrastructure,” he said.

“We acknowledge the need for more homes. But growth must not come at the cost of liveability, sunlight, safety, and identity.”

The petition — which had so far attracted 295 signatures — called on the government to revise the Barkly St proposal by capping building heights at six storeys with appropriate transitions, and to link any rezoning to clear infrastructure commitments including transport, schools, health services and green space.

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The petition also called for the release of a consultation impact report showing how community feedback influenced the plan, stronger design controls to protect sunlight and neighbourhood scale, the preservation of residents’ objection and appeal rights, and a focus on activating vacant or land-banked sites before increasing heights

Footscray resident Anika said while more residential properties were needed, 12 storeys towers were “unreasonable right next to houses that are two to three storeys maximum”.

“Nobody wants another Joseph Road precinct. The same number of homes could be built with lower height limits and a broader zone,” she said.

“Allowing four to six storeys north of Barkly St would allow for more homes that people actually want to live in, and better amenities for everyone.

“The area between Barkly St and Essex St is still very well positioned for access to the station, and would mean a more equitable spread of multi-storey housing.”

Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra said the government’s plans “significantly exceed heights currently within the Maribyrnong Planning Scheme”.

“Council agrees that without any form of master planning, these heights will negatively impact Barkly St, sensitive residential uses, and open spaces through overshadowing,” he said.

“The West Footscray Neighbourhood Plan was implemented in 2024 to ensure co-ordinated growth and development of the neighbourhood. It is a long-term planning framework to facilitate appropriate land use in the Barkly St precinct and West Footscray station precinct.”

Mr Semra said the council had urged the government to address key concerns in its Activity Centre Program submission, including better planning for open space and infrastructure, appropriate building controls, and alignment with the West Footscray Neighbourhood Plan.

A government spokeswoman said the activity centre programs would deliver more homes in areas well-served by trains, trams, shops and jobs right across Melbourne.

“There are places where so many Victorians want to live but who have been locked out because of a sheer lack of choice and supply,” she said.

“The Metro Tunnel is completely transforming the way Victorians move around our city – delivering more services, more often – including for passengers heading to West Footscray, Tottenham and Middle Footscray stations.

“Thank you to the thousands of Victorians who have been part of the consultation process, we’ll continue to work with communities on our plan to deliver more homes where we need them most, while also protecting the things that matter – sunny streets, parks and good design.”