This is what the East Werribee Employment Precinct could look like if the Australian Education City consortium is announced as the winning bidder for the site.
The AEC has released artist impressions that detail its vision for a $30 billion education, research and employment city that will include top universities from China and the United Kingdom, the largest science park in the southern hemisphere, and a research and development hub that will concentrate on fields of research excellence such as biomedical research, cleantech, agri-food sciences, advanced manufacturing, and information and communications technologies.
Apartment blocks as high as 50 storeys and a lakeside entertainment precinct with restaurants, cafes, theatres, galleries and performing arts centres is also on the cards in a bid to lure up to 80,000 residents, 50,000 students and 100,000 workers.
According to its website, the AEC has Memorandums of Understanding to partner with global companies IBM, Honeywell, and Cisco, “who will establish industry-led innovation within our flagship location”.
The East Werribee Employment Precinct is the largest undeveloped parcel of publicly-owned surplus government land in metropolitan Melbourne.
The state government last year identified the AEC, which is headed by Investors Direct managing director Bill Zheng and includes former premier John Brumby on its advisory board, as the preferred bidders for the precinct.
The AEC has been granted an exclusivity period that will expire in August to fine-tune its plans for the precinct and its negotiations with the government.
State Finance Minister Robin Scott said the government was keen to get the best development outcome for the site.
“This is a large and complex project. It’s important we take the time to look over every detail and ensure we get it right,” Mr Scott said.
AEC spokesman Ross Martiensen said the consortium could not comment on the bidding process but expected a decision would be made by September.
