Melbourne public housing towers demolition to go ahead despite residents’ class action

33 Alfred Street, North Melbourne, one of the first three occupied towers slated for demolition that are the focus of the class action. Photograph: Daniel Pockett/AAP

The Victorian government is forging ahead with plans to demolish three public housing towers subject to a class action seeking to stop the redevelopment.

The move was described by a lawyer for residents as an example of them being “treated as an afterthought”, after the supreme court ordered the class action could proceed to a two-day trial this month.