By Violet Li
Lot sales have started for a historically controversial industrial site in Cranbourne West.
The industrial site at 690 Western Port Highway was historically linked to Operation Sandon, a major anti-corruption investigation by Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), before the real estate developer Salta Properties acquired the land in 2021.
Salta is now selling twelve lots in a precinct called Industrial Quarter (iQ), starting from 6,375 sqm in size, with amalgamation possible.
The iQ site is located 450 metres from the Western Port Highway, with links to the South Gippsland Freeway, Princes Highway, and the Monash Freeway. It provides access to freight and logistics corridors.
Last year in September, Star News reported that the proposed industrial development on the site triggered Federal involvement due to its potential to disrupt the habitats of vulnerable and endangered species.
The developer proposed to remove 0.512 hectares of native vegetation and approximately 50 hectares of non-native vegetation for future construction. An environmental assessment identified the site as a potential habitat for 15 threatened species, including the swift parrot, southern brown bandicoot, and swamp skink, but no ground-dwelling threatened species were found during field surveys. The developer’s application also argued that the land was of low ecological quality due to past cattle grazing and mostly introduced grasses.
A month later, the Federal department ruled that the proposed removal was “not a controlled action”, which means it does not require formal assessment or approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). The action can proceed without further federal environmental assessment or approval under the EPBC Act.
According to Salta, this sales launch followed its sale last year of a neighbouring site, 635 Hall Road, to global property groups ESR and Frasers Property Industrial, in a joint-venture deal for a record $200 million-plus.
The launch of iQ sales reaffirmed Salta’s “long-term industrial commitment” to the region, which adds to the property group’s ongoing efforts to establish Victoria’s first inland port, to be located at its Nexus Dandenong South Precinct.
“Our acquisition of the 123-hectare Cranbourne site (690 Western Port Highway and 635 Hall Road) in 2021 made sense for us,” Salta managing director Sam Tarascio said.
“We understood that industrial use remains the most appropriate and productive purpose for this land. Combined with our intermodal rail terminal, which will reshape freight efficiency across the Southeast and reinforce the strategic advantage of our precincts for large-scale industrial users, the corridor will be solidified as the mecca for industrial operations and industrial land value.
“iQ is future development ready, and this first release offers the best sites available for businesses seeking flexibility and long-term growth, perfectly suited to businesses in food production, cold storage, manufacturing, and last-mile logistics.
“The site’s access via a signalled intersection offers a major competitive edge for operators prioritising transport efficiency.”
The 123-hectare industrial site was central to IBAC Operation Sandon before Salta purchased the land.
Developer John Woodman lobbied to rezone the site from industrial to residential use to significantly increase its value.
IBAC’s investigation revealed that Woodman paid over $550,000 to two then-City of Casey councillors in exchange for their support of the rezoning efforts. The rezoning proposal was ultimately rejected by then-Planning Minister Richard Wynne in 2020, citing a shortage of industrial land in the area.
Salta acquired the 123-hectare site in 2021 for a $1.2 billion industrial estate, later selling half (635 Hall Road) to ESR and Frasers.
