Major Projects Victoria (previously known as the Victorian Government Major Projects Unit 1987-1992; Office of Major Projects 1992 - 2002)

Full description

The Victorian Government Major Projects Unit was established in February 1987 as an independent unit responsible for the co-ordination of designated major development projects and for the preparation of state-owned sites for development by the private sector.

It was established following the gazettal of the Administration of Acts, Supplement to General Order of 29 April 1986, dated 13 February 1987. Under the provisions of this order, the Premier assigned ministerial responsibility for so much of the Urban Land Authority Act 1979 as related to major state projects to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs. This responsibility was later assigned to the Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources in November 1998, then from May 1990 the Minister of Major Projects.

The Urban Land Authority (ULA, VA 1358) delegated its powers relating to major state projects to the unit under Section 8 of the Urban Land Authority Act 1979 and the Minister responsible formally assigned projects to the unit in accordance with the Section 4 (1) (c) of the Act. The operations of the unit were separate from the existing residential and commercial land development activities of the ULA and any liabilities arising from government approved activities were the responsibility of the State. In 1994, delegation of major projects was formally legislated with the passing of the Project and Construction Management Act 1994. Delegation under the Urban Land Authority Act continued until this Act was repealed in 1998.

On 6 October 1992, the unit became a body of the Department of Planning and Development (VA 3094) and became known as the Office of Major Projects. It was transferred to the Department of Infrastructure (DoI, VA 3971) following machinery of government changes that came into effect on 3 April 1996. From 1 November 1999 to 5 March 2002 the office was part of the Department of State and Regional Development (VA 4189), which assumed responsibility for major project policy and implementation until it became the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD, VA 4564). When the office returned to DoI, it was renamed Major Projects Victoria (MPV).

MPV was later reassigned to DIIRD when DoI was renamed the Department of Transport (VA 4853) on 30 April 2008. MPV remained with DIIRD's predecessor agencies Department of Business and Innovation (VA 4925), and Department of State Development, Business and Innovation (VA 5001) until 2014. It then operated independently of the departments, instead reporting directly to the Minister responsible for each project, until it was incorporated into the newly established Development Victoria (VA 5293) in 2017.

The functions of the unit included acquisition, consolidation and preparation of sites. Its task was to facilitate the development of large strategically significant areas of government-owned land for commercial, tourist and residential purposes and provided a central contact point for developers interested in investing in major government projects. It was also responsible for major projects policy and implementation.

The unit had the authority to invite tenders, evaluate competitive development proposals, select developers, facilitate planning approvals, execute financial and legal agreements and supervise construction.

Initially there were eight projects managed by the unit, all of them important to the development of inner Melbourne. By 1989, there were thirteen projects reflecting the Government's determination to accelerate the development of government-owned land. Throughout the 1990s, the unit managed several significant development projects including the Casino site on Southbank, the Melbourne Museum in Carlton Gardens and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on South Wharf. The unit also worked with the Docklands Authority (VA 5498) to deliver key projects such as the Docklands Film and Television Studios.

Significant developments continued through the 2000s and 2010s with Federation Square, State Library and National Gallery renovation projects, Victorian Archives Centre, Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre, MCG redevelopment, the 2006 Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village, The Australian Synchrotron research facility in Clayton, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and the Geelong Cultural Precinct.