By Jaidyn Kennedy
Property mogul and former councillor Intaj Khan has unveiled his plans for a $200 million development that would make Tarneit the “Paramatta of Victoria”.
‘Tarneit Hill’, deemed by Mr Khan to be his signature development, would include three high-rise towers: a 110-room international hotel, a 20-storey office tower and a residential tower. His vision also includes ‘110 residential designer homes’, childcare facilities and a health and wellbeing centre.
Planning to develop the precinct at 645-675 Derrimut Road on land that he owns, Mr Khan is calling on Wyndham Council to be bold and support the venture.
“The council have been supportive thus far and said we are happy to let you build more floors and entertain the idea, but we just need to see a feasibility study.”
Mr Khan said that while his company, CountryLand Australia, would undertake feasibility studies to satisfy the council, faster action was needed to turn Tarneit into a ‘microcity’ and economic hub.
“I’m very inspired by the Box Hill Central model, because the council over there just did it – they didn’t have to do a feasibility study,” Mr Khan said.
“We need to build new microcities, so we can ease public transport strain and so we can ease all this traffic congestion.”
Mr Khan said part of the Tarneit Hill model was to encourage the construction of more high density living spaces in the western suburbs.
“It doesn’t matter how rich of a country you are, you can’t keep up with it, you can’t just keep building on paddocks and then building more houses,” he said.
“When you build housing estates, you then need to build a road, then a park, then a school, then drainage, then sewage– and it will cost you a fortune.”
Tarneit Hill’s office tower would provide business spaces in Tarneit and neighbouring growth suburbs, something said Mr Khan is necessary to stimulate economic growth and local jobs.
“Now look at Mount Atkinson, a low-rise estate and look now at Tarneit North, there’s a thousand houses here and you don’t have an office building at all,” he said.
“If your family member or loved one has to go work in an office, there’s no way the corporation is going to come here [Tarneit] and establish buildings, because the local developers still have to put up infrastructure.”
Mr Khan said his scheme for a luxury hotel would also attract international tourism to the area due to the suburbs location between Melbourne and Avalon Airport.
The hotel would include an events function centre which Mr Khan said members of the public routinely suggest he build.
“In Tarneit, there are young families that are having weddings, birthdays, office celebrations. The migrant community likes to put on a show, a grand reception, that’s what they do. I think I have received 10-12 phone calls asking ‘Why don’t you make a reception centre?’”
Tarneit Hill would also gentrify the area, believes Mr Khan.
“You are spending millions and millions of dollars on making a club [Western United] here, and not thinking out of the box on how to make the area look more vibrant,” he said.
“The area needs to go with a modern, progressive view and look better than it does now.”
Mr Khan said he has built his life in the western suburbs and would like to contribute to its prosperity
“I’m just 200 metres down the road, I built my house here, so I would love to see a better high-rise building, state-of-the-art, that people can come and say the west is getting better.
“We are not talking about going on the moon. It’s a simple thing to do.”
Mr Khan has submitted a formal application for subdivion with the council.
A Wyndham Council spokesperson confirmed council was in discussion with Countryland Australia regarding multiple scenarios.
“No determination has been made at this time and further information has been sought from the applicant,” the spokesperson said.
