Resident Groups are asked to meet on the steps of Parliament House on Wednesday 3rd May at 12:30pm, and to bring at least 10 people to the meeting.

Conveners are calling on Residents Groups to use their democratic right to demand the Government stops overcrowding our neighbourhoods with inappropriate development, overstretching our infrastructure, further polluting the air we breathe, giving our open spaces to developers and taking planning power from our Councils (and us). Premier Bracks will be invited to speak to the rally and be presented with a list of demands on behalf of all of the resident groups.

For information: Mary Drost (ph 9882 4453 or 0401 834 899)
For updates: www.melbourne2030.org.au

Louise Grace, Spokesperson, Collingwood Action Group, 26 Cambridge St, Collingwood, VIC 3066
Email: cag@smithstreet.org

WHAT: Public meeting on Planning Minister Hulls' decision to approve Banco's plans, reject Council's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan and refuse mandatory controls for Smith Street.
WHEN: Wednesday 19 April 2006 from 6.30-8:30pm.
WHERE: Reading Room, Fitzroy Town Hall, crnr Moor Street.
WHO: Presentations by Local State MP Richard Wynne; Yarra's Langridge Ward Councillors; Council's lawyers; Council planning staff.

Council has promised community input at the meeting and has a proposed Agenda:
- Address (Richard Wynne MP State Member for Richmond).
- Update on the issue of a planning permit for Banco site and the potential use of Local Laws to manage off site amenity impacts (John Rantino, Maddocks Lawyers).
- Explanation of the planning permit conditions (Council planning staff).
- Discussion and comments including use of Local Laws.

DON'T MISS THIS MEETING IF YOU WANT TO:
Ask questions of your Local MP, Councillors, Council planning staff and Council's lawyers.
Hear first hand what the Planning Minister's decision means for Smith Street - the Banco site AND the rest of Smith Street.
Know if Smith Street is vulnerable to more high-rise towers now the Planning Minister has rejected Council's interim plan and refused mandatory height controls.
Ask Local MP Richard Wynne how he will fight for mandatory controls for Smith Street.
Hear how this decision affects the proposed redevelopment of Smith Street's Safeway site.
Have a say on ways to minimise the worst effects of the development such as traffic for local residents and businesses.
Know how this happened despite such strong community opposition, especially if you were one of the original 1500 objectors, among the hundreds who protested at public meetings and street rallies, or were one of the hundreds more who signed petitions and sent electronic petitions objecting to Banco's plans for Smith Street and asking the Minister to approve Council's interim plan for Smith Street.

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE BANCO DEVELOPMENT …
- Banco has been issued a planning permit by the Yarra Council.
- Banco can start building any time after Yarra Council approves its new plans.
- Banco can raze almost half a block from Smith St's Grace Darling to Old Post Office back to Little Oxford St and destroy heritage buildings to construct 3 high-rise towers of 8, 7 and 5 storeys (viewed as 8, 9 storeys on Little Oxford St); 161 apartments; 3 level underground car-park of 411 spaces; offices; shopping mall with 10 retail outlets, 200 seat café and 24 hour supermarket.
- Banco has a total of 6 years within which it must start and finish this development.
- Traffic experts predict 800% increase in traffic movements into and out of Little Oxford St (400 movements now up to 3,000 daily) from and onto local streets.
- Loading, unloading, waste collection all on Little Oxford St from 7am to 10pm daily.
- Trucks will reverse into loading bays on Little Oxford St to make deliveries.
- 24 hour supermarket is serviced by a 411 space car park built underground on 3 levels and accessed only from Little Oxford St.
- 3 towers can be built up to a max of 9 storeys high as viewed from Little Oxford St.

AND HARD QUESTIONS …
- Will property investors on Little Oxford Street and neighbouring streets be able to rent any property with a long-term construction site as its backyard?
- What disruption can locals running home-based businesses expect with a building site on their doorstep?
- Will on-street parking be affected by the development, during and after construction?
- Will Little Oxford Street be safe for pedestrians?
- Are there any occupational health and safety issues caused by the development - by exhaust fumes, noise, light spillage, increased traffic, etc?
- What will happen to existing businesses on Smith Street servicing the community?
- What can Council do now?

COMMUNITY PICKET PLANNED

Close to 300 people rallied in Smith Street Collingwood on Saturday 4th March to voice their protest against the proposed Banco construction of the seven-storey apartment towers in Smith Street.

Despite 1500 objections to it, and the continued opposition of the community, Yarra Council and local MLA for Richmond Richard Wynne, the Banco plan was recently approved by Planning Minister Rob Hulls.

"Minister Hulls' approval of the plans has re-fired community opposition" said Collingwood Action Group spokesperson Louise Grace. "The approvals process was skewed against the community, ignored community wishes, and we’re going to fight on."

Speakers at the rally, hosted by Rod Quantock, included Collingwood Action Group's Louise Grace, Save Our Suburbs Ian Quick, Socialist Party Yarra Councillor Steve Jolly, Union Solidarity's Dave Kerin, former Yarra mayor Greg Barber from the Greens, and Richmond MLA Richard Wynne.

The rally unanimously approved a motion demanding that Yarra Council seek legal advice on a challenge to Minister Hulls' approval of the plans (full motion attached). The motion requested that the building unions use their lobbying power with Banco to hold talks with the community to work out an equitable solution; and that in the event of a community picket on the site, they respect the campaign and not cross the line.

"People are angry that Collingwood is being treated as a development site rather than a living, breathing community – it has reinvigorated the community's resolve to band together and fight for a development that is in step with their needs." said Louise Grace.

In his speech Ian Quick noted that Collingwood could accommodate the whole of the population expansion proposed in Melbourne 2030 by development of former industrial sites. "There is no need to wreck streetscapes with supersize spec building" Mr Quick said.

"We want development in Smith Street, but it should be good development, which respects the heritage of the street and conforms to local planning controls" said Louise Grace, "and we'll fight on to get that".

More information contact: Louise Grace
Collingwood Action Group Spokesperson
cag@smithstreet.org
(0410) 686 971

PUBLIC RALLY – SAY NO TO BANCO!
SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2006 AT 1PM
CORNER SMITH & WEBB STREETS, FITZROY

MOTION

Move a motion that:

a) City of Yarra obtains legal advice from senior counsel on the validity of the Planning Minister's decision to give Banco's plans the go ahead; whether residents were denied natural justice; and how local laws could modify the worst impacts of the approved development;

b) City of Yarra funds and initiates and active campaign working with the community to oppose the approval of Banco's plans and rejection of Amendment C76 based on Wyndham Council's successful campaign to defeat a proposed toxic waste dump at Werribee.

c) Unions and specifically the building unions use their power to help get Banco to the table to reach a better outcome for the community; respect any community picket in the future; and slap green bans on Banco site if necessary.

Moved:
Seconded:
Endorsed:

Nearly 200 people signed a petition calling on the City of Yarra to stand together with the community and continue fighting the Minister's decision to approve Banco's development and reject Amendment C76, by seeking proper legal advice and funding an ongoing campaign:
1. We the undersigned ask the City of Yarra to do everything in its powers to act in accordance with the Council resolution of Tuesday 21 February 2006 re the above matters by urgently obtaining legal advice from senior counsel as subsequently recommended by its in-house lawyers and ensure this advice:
" Examines whether the Priority Development Panel's (PDP) conduct in revising Banco's plans in meetings without resident representation represents a denial of natural justice to residents excluded from the meeting;
" Examines the legal validity or otherwise of the process followed by the PDP to reach a determination to grant Banco a planning permit;
" Examines whether or not the PDP's conduct in considering Banco's planning application prior to considering and determining on C76 was appropriate;
" Explores the potential to use local laws to modify any negative impacts of the proposed development; and
" Is reported by Council to the community at its planned public meeting on the Minister's decisions prior to making any decision on the advice.
2. We the undersigned also ask that the City of Yarra initiate and fund an active campaign in conjunction with the community to oppose the decision to approve the Banco development and reject Amendment C76, based on the successful campaign by the Wyndham Council to defeat the proposed Werribee Toxic Waste Dump.
3. We request that each of the undersigned be treated as an individual petitioner.

The rally also overwhelmingly supported this motion requesting support from the City of Yarra and unions in the campaign against the decision to approve the Banco development and reject Yarra's Amendment C76:
a) City of Yarra obtains legal advice from senior counsel on the validity of the Planning Minister's decision to give Banco's plans the go ahead; whether residents were denied natural justice; and how local laws could modify the worst impacts of the approved development;
b) City of Yarra funds and initiates and active campaign working with the community to oppose the approval of Banco's plans and rejection of Amendment C76 based on Wyndham Council's successful campaign to defeat a proposed toxic waste dump at Werribee.
c) Unions and specifically the building unions use their power to help get Banco to the table to reach a better outcome for the community; respect any community picket in the future; and slap green bans on Banco site if necessary.

Yarra Council is currently considering the question of seeking further legal advice about the Minister's decision with a view to appealing (see story on Yarra Council motion).

More news on the rally, a media release and photographs to follow soon.

INFORMATION RELEASE

FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2006

LOCALS, RESIDENTS, UNIONS FIGHT ON TO SAY NO TO BANCO ON SMITH STREET - PUBLIC RALLY 1PM ON SATURDAY 4 MARCH

Disappointed by Planning Minister Rob Hulls' greenlighting the monster Banco development on Smith Street, residents, locals, unions and friends are taking action. Hull's decision paves the way for Banco to build 3 high-rise towers of 8, 7 and 5 storeys; 161 apartments; 3 level underground car-park of 411 spaces; offices; and a shopping mall with 24 hour supermarket. This development is completely out of step with the community's wishes, and will be fought all the way.

Collingwood Action Group spokesperson Louise Grace said today people were shocked that despite such strong community opposition to Banco's proposal - including a record 1500 objections to their original plans - and Yarra's refusal to grant a planning permit, the Minister rubber-stamped his Priority Development Panel's recommendation to approve Banco's plans with only a 'tweaking'.
Banco's original plans and the revised plans that went before the Minister's Priority Development Panel were widely regarded as ambit claims. 'It's nonsense to suggest that the revised plans given Ministerial approval are a significant scaling back of Banco's proposal or in any way respond to community, Council and expert concerns about the development's height, bulk and issues related to heritage, traffic, environmental health and neighbourhood amenity', said Ms Grace.

The Collingwood Action Group believed the Minister's parallel decision to reject Yarra's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan sent a message that the government was only interested in pro-development expert advice and developers' profits. 'The people of Collingwood and Fitzroy and the broader Yarra community want to know why their vision for this precinct has been ignored'.

Experts predict the Minister's decision will give developers open slather to 'Chapel Street-ize' Smith Street and threaten other historic shopping strips in Melbourne. Ms Grace also warned of a potential Cheesegrater scenario, 'The decision to give Banco six years to complete this development risks another planning disaster for the community like Fitzroy's "Cheesegrater", which years later still looks like a bomb site'.

The public rally is on Saturday 4th March at 1:00pm, corner of Webb and Smith Streets, Fitzroy (between numbers 165 and 171 Smith Street). 'The Collingwood Action Group is proud that this rally has the support of Yarra Council and a broad coalition of unions, resident groups and activists', said Ms Grace. MC is Rod Quantock, co-convener of Protectors of Public Lands. Speakers include Yarra Councillor Steve Jolly, Save our Suburbs President Ian Quick, Dave Kerin of Union Solidarity, and Greg Barber, Greens Candidate.

FOR MEDIA COMMENT
Collingwood Action Group, Spokesperson, Louise Grace 0410 686 971
Yarra Council, Cllr Steve Jolly 0437 856 713
Save our Suburbs, President Ian Quick 0422 479 54

Louise Grace
Spokesperson, Collingwood Action Group

At the City of Yarra Counil meeting of Tuesday 21 February 2006 the following motion was carried. The resolution requires Council write to the Planning Minister and express its 'disappointment' about the decisions to approve Banco's development and reject Yarra's Interim Structure Plan for Smith Street. Moved by Councillor Jenny Farrar, the motion was successfully amended by Councillor Steve Jolly so Council seeks urgent legal advice. This includes looking at using local laws to modify the negative impacts of Banco'ss development and examing the procedural fairmess of Planning Minister Hulls' Priority Development Panel and its inquiry into the 'Banco' development proposal and Yarra Council's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan.

YARRA COUNCIL RESOLUTION - ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2006   
RE: APPLICATION PL03/1407 MULTI-STOREY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AT 132-172 SMITH STREET AND 63-71 LITTLE OXFORD STREET COLLINGWOOD AND AMENDMENT C76 TO THE YARRA PLANNING SCHEME - PROPOSED INTERIM CONTROL - DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY 5

1. That Council notes:

(a) the decision of the Governor in Council to allow application P754/2005 for the review of Council's decision to refuse a permit for a multi storey mixed use development at 132-172 Smith Street and 63-71 Little Oxford Street, Collingwood and directing that Council issue a planning permit;

(b) the decision of the Minister for Planning to not approve at this stage Amendment C76 to the Yarra Planning Scheme which proposed to introduce interim structure plan controls over the Smith Street Precinct in the form of a Design and Development Overlay (DDO5); and

(c) the Minister's invitation for Council to consult with DSE to determine the appropriate controls that will enable Amendment C76 to be further considered.

2. That Council write to the Minister for Planning and the State MP to express Council's disappointment with regard to the recommendations of the Priority Development Panel, the determination of the Governor in Council and the Minister's decision not to approve Amendment C76 and in particular to:

(a) confirm Yarra's support for urban consolidation and limiting the ecological footprint of urban sprawl;

(b) confirm Yarra's commitment to population growth in the municipality in accordance with Melbourne 2030's population aspirations;

(c) confirm Council's support for the Inner Regional Housing Statement (IRHS) and Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP) as developed by the Cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra in conjunction with the State Government through the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Department of Human Services Office of Housing; and

(d) point out that the decision is contrary to the strategies identified in both the IRHS and the IMAP which provide that:

(i) the key opportunities for new residential development in the Inner Melbourne Region generally lie outside of the existing principal, major and neighbourhood activity centres in major redevelopment sites and precincts; and

(ii) housing growth and intensification be directed to the CAD and identified major redevelopment sites and precincts, with only a moderate increase in residential infill development within principal and major activity centres as guided by structure plans.

3. That Council Officers work with DSE representatives to revise Amendment C76 to the Yarra Planning Scheme to:

(a) ensure that the Design and Development Overlay is based on the relevant objectives outlined in IMAP and the IRHS, that there should only be a moderate increase in residential infill development within principal and major activity centres as guided by structure plans.

(b) ensure that there are clear linkages between the design objectives, buildings and works controls and decision guidelines included in the DDO; and

(c) include mandatory controls that better reflect the Urban Design Framework but provide for flexibility where exemplary environmentally sustainable design outcomes and social infrastructure improvements including affordable housing can be provided.

4. That Council facilitate a public meeting to be held in 2-3 weeks at the Collingwood Town Hall to update the community in regards to the PDP recommendations and the decision of the Governor in Council.

5. That Council seek urgent legal advice from Maddocks Lawyers examining:

(a) the potential to use Local Laws to modify any negative impacts of the proposed development;

(b) the legal validity or otherwise of the process followed to reach a determination and issue a planning permit;

(c) whether or not the Panel's conduct in considering the planning application prior to consideration and determination of C76 was appropriate; and

(d) whether or not the Panel's conduct in revising the plans following a meeting with the developer, represents a denial of natural justice to residents and others who were excluded from the meeting.

CARRIED

Planning Minister Rob Hulls gave the go-ahead for the monster Banco development which will ruin Smith Street's neighbourhood character and feel and destroy its heritage. Despite more than 1500 objections, Yarra's refusal of Banco's original plans, and a sustained community campaign, the Minister approved a tweaked version of the revised design. Although CAG and other resident groups have succeeded in scaling the development down from 9 storeys, the apartment block and shopping mall complex will 'Chapel-Streetize' Collingwood and Fitzroy.

The Minister essentially rubber-stamped the recommendations of the Priority Development Panel he set up last year to advise on the future of Banco's plans and Yarra's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan. Residents criticised the Panel for its pro-development stance and support for Banco's plans subject to only a 'tweaking'.

'The Collingwood Action Group has always said this site needed redevelopment', spokesperson Louise Grace said today. 'The question was "what kind"? We wanted a 5 storey maximum with proper setbacks, heritage conserved, a design in keeping with neighbourhood character, and residential amenity respected. We've ended up with 3 high-rise towers of 7, 7 and 5 storeys, 161 apartments, 411 car spaces and traffic chaos for residents and businesses caused by the projected 2,500 new car movements a day down Little Oxford Street, a narrow one-way street.'

It also appears the Minister's office issued a misleading media release. It says the tower next to the Old Post Office will be 'reduced in height by three storeys', but this is contradicted by the Minister's written decision stating overall one level has been removed from the tallest tower, and 6 apartments removed from two towers. 'Let's not forget Banco's original and revised plans were always an ambit claim. Of course we welcome any improvements in design and reductions in the design's bulk with additional setbacks, and while the Minister's decision is a step in the right direction it is an inadequate response to community and expert concerns', said Ms Grace.

CAG believes Hulls' decision to approve a modified Banco development, and failure to approve Yarra's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan, are a blow to both genuine community involvement in Melbourne planning, and the possibility of good design in Smith Street. Experts already predict the Minister's decision sets a precedent for future development on Smith Street and threatens other historic shopping strips.

Collingwood Action Group, unions, and other resident group supporters will hold a street rally, 1:00 pm on Saturday 4th March outside Banco's site at 154 Smith Street.

FOR MEDIA COMMENT
Collingwood Action Group, Spokesperson, Louise Grace 0410 686 971
Yarra Council, Cllr Steve Jolly 0437 856 713
Save our Suburbs, President Ian Quick 0422 479 540

What the Minister said in a media release about his decision:
- reducing the height of the 3 buildings along Smith Street frontage from up to 8 storeys to between 5, 6 and 7 storeys.*
- setting back the upper level of the southern buliding from Smith Street by around 18 metres, reducing its visibility from the Street.
- reconstructing the historic facade of the former Coles Variety Store building and the former Foy & Gibson building.
- creating a new verandah in scale similar to the former Foy & Gibson Store that once extended across the site.
- allowing the height of the building along Little Oxford Street up to 4 storeys, with the upper levels set back.
*NB The release states that this building 'has been reduced in height by three storeys' - this appears an error, it is contradicted by the Minister's written statement which only mentions the 'deletion of 7th floor Building B dwellings'. In fact Building 'B' steps back to 9 storeys at the tower's centre, according to Yarra Council.

What the Priority Development Panel said to the Minister:
- subject to the removal of one storey from each of Buildings A and B, as well as some revision to the Smith Street facade and to the development's north-west corner, the scale of the development represents an appropriate response to the site's strategic and built form context.
- the redevelopment of the site, within a major activity centre well served by public transport and for a substantial mixed use development that responds appropriately to its historic and built form context, is consistent with planning policy at both a State and local level, including the objectives of Melbourne 2030.

A copy of the Priority Development Panel's report can be found at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/....PanelReportDecember2005.pdf

What the Minister said to Yarra Council:
The Minister instructed Yarra to issue a planning permit to Banco, and ensure that all conditions placed on the planning permit are satisfied, to allow Banco to start building. Based on the Panel's advice the Minister rejected the Smith Street Interim Structure Plan, sending it back to Council to make changes to:
- better reflect the diversity of built form along Smith Street, including the Safeway site.
- any built form controls should be discretionary not mandatory.
- there should be greater clarity, less repitition and clearer linkages between the design objectives, the building and works controls and the decision guidelines.

What this means:
- Banco's original and revised plans were still an ambit claim - the Minister's decision, based on the Panel's advice, appears to give an overall reduction of only 1storey, and deletes 4 units from one tower and 2 units from another tower.
- A development has been approved that still exceeds the community's preferred maximum height limit and massing for Banco's site - on both Smith Street and on Little Oxford Street - as expressed in consultations for Yarra Council's Interim Structure Plan - now rejected by the Minister.
- Residential amenity and traffic are ignored - there is no reduction of the 411 space car park or proposal for alternative service vehicle options, in combination predicted to generate more than 2,500 new car movements a day down Little Oxford Street, a narrow one way street, an 800% increase over the current 400 daily movements.
- The heritage protection is minimalist facadism and goes no further than what Banco proposed in their revised plans - it also fails to conserve elements of the historic Macs Hotel and ignores the unique tunnel under Smith Street which should be conserved and opened.
- The Minister rejected Yarra's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan and requested Council to make amendments - there is no basis for giving special treatment to Banco by not applying the amended Structure Plan to the Banco site.
- There is no point in asking Councils to draft Structure Plans if maximum heights for development can only be 'discretionary' not mandatory - planning controls should be there to give certainty to developers and the community.
- The decision is a lost opportunity to win developer contributions for the community.

At this stage no revised plans are available to interpret the Minister's decision and Yarra Council has advised it is in discussions with the Minister and department over their errors in interpretation and drafting the planning permit. CAG will do a full analysis once plans are available.

What people are saying:
- National Trust warns the decision puts other historic shopping strips under threat (The Age, 15 February 2006).
- Yarra Councillor Steve Jolly says there will be a protest rally on Smith Street (The Age, 15 February 2006).
- Save Our Suburbs describes the decision as an absolute disaster and will set a precedent for other development (Financial Review, 16 February 2006).
- Local MP Wynne says the developer and council will need to resolve serious traffic problems in Little Oxford Street (Melbourne Times, 15 February 2006).

What the media is saying:
The Age ('Hulls approves Smith Street towers', Wednesday 15 February, p 5, theage.com.au), The Financial Review ('Anger builds at Collingwood', Thursday 16 February, p 60, www.afr.com), The Melbourne Times ('Hulls gives thumbs-up to Banco, but only if towers go down', February 15 2006, p 5).

Watch this space for a media release by Collingwood Action Group, news of the community campaign and a full analysis of the decision.

Wednesday 21 December 2005

The Hon Rob Hulls
Minister for Planning
Level 17, 8 Nicholson Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002

Dear Minister Hulls

Re: Priority Development Panel (PDP) Inquiry re City of Yarra's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan (C76 Amendment) and Planning Permit Application for 132-172 Smith Street and 63-71 Little Oxford Street Collingwood

We write further to correspondence in October and November regarding the above matter, for information on the inquiry's progress and to seek an audience with you.

Minister, prior to any ruling on this matter, we once more wish to request a meeting with you to outline our position regarding the development of this important site. We believe that the public concern around this warrants such a meeting. This was raised at a meeting on 4th November with representatives of the Collingwood Action Group (CAG) and your planning advisor Mr Mark Woodland where discussions covered a range of issues arising from 'Banco's' proposed Smith Street development and the Priority Development Panel (PDP) appointed by you to consider it and Yarra Council's interim structure plan (amendment C76).

We do not intend to restate our concerns regarding this particular PDP, as we have done so in some detail in previous correspondence to you (dated October and November 2005). Residents were prepared to participate in the PDP process in good faith. As you will see from the enclosed copy of the residents' submission to the PDP (Attachment 1 Resident parties submission, CD-Rom) we put a huge effort into our case. However we are extremely disappointed and disillusioned by this experience.

May we reiterate that the community was genuinely pleased with your decision to call in Banco's planning application and remove it from VCAT. The extent of the community's support for Ministerial intervention is evident from the hundreds of on-line petitions emailed to you which were generated from the Collingwood Action Group web-site and the almost 300 signatures CAG has collected on petitions (Attachment 2 Petition re VCAT call in) requesting you call in the plans.

In meeting with the public during our Saturday morning leafleting, street rally and community picket training we find a level of community concern and anger about this development that is unparalleled. Many people are at a loss to understand why it is that despite the record 1500 objections to the original plans, Council's refusal of the application, and the ongoing community campaign, that not only has Banco persisted with an ambit claim but also it is possible such a development proposal could still go ahead. As a result, more recently we have obtained over 200 signatures on a petition that asks you as Minister for Planning to call a halt to the PDP and tell Banco to submit a genuinely new proposal that is right for Smith Street and aligns with Yarra Council's interim controls for the precinct (Attachment 3 Petition re halt PDP and reject Banco's plans). In addition, up to 100 e-petitions have been emailed to you with a similar request.

May we congratulate you on creation of the role of State Architect and the appointment of Mr Denton. We note that the State Architect's remit includes advice to government on buildings of public significance. We believe that the Banco proposal meets this criterion, for reasons such as its heritage context, the contemporary architecture proposed for a heritage precinct, the size of the site, and the scale of the proposal. You may be aware that during the PDP inquiry concerns were raised about the need to improve the Banco proposal's design, given views that the failure to do so could be the difference between a building that was a 'flop' rather than a success. We therefore ask that prior to considering the Panel's advice to you that their 'tweaked' plans be referred to the State Architect for his expert advice.

Based on the PDP's timetable we expect that you are by now in receipt of their advice. The community is keen to hear about the next steps involving your decision on Banco's proposal and Yarra Council's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan, and would welcome information on this process and timeframe.

We look forward to meeting with you to discuss what is a matter of great importance to the communities of Collingwood and Fitzroy, and will contact your office shortly.

Yours sincerely
Earl Sakareassen, Spokesperson, Collingwood Action Group

On behalf of resident parties to PDP represented by David O'Brien, Barrister:
Andrew Brain & Jane Winter, Jenny & Kevin Cato, Andrew Garton, Cliodhna Rae, Laurence Billiet, Julie & David Harris , Dr Pearly Khaw & Dr Trevor Leong , Judy Watson, Ashley Manners, Robyn Zwar , Katarina Blomer, Rachel Antony, Grant McHerron, Desmond Files, Richard Girvan, Caitlin Nicholas, Earl Sakareassen, Warren Giesbers, Janine Baird, Anni Davey, Andrew Plummer, Vicki Evans, Carol Conroy.

cc Richard Wynne, Jackie Fristacky, Steve Jolly

• 3 high-rise towers of 5, 7 and 8 storeys on Smith St
• These 3 towers = 7, 9 and 10 storeys on Little Oxford St
• 410 car parks on 3 levels – accessed via Little Oxford St
• Multi-level shopping mall with 24 hour supermarket
• 157 apartments
• Demolish half a block and destroy heritage buildings.

Download the images here, see what you think, and maybe post a comment on our website.

Note the following images were scanned and reduced in size for viewing over the web.

scan567.gif - Site Plan
scan569.gif - Basement 1
scan570.gif - Lower Ground
scan571.gif - Ground Plan
scan572.gif - First Floor
scan573.gif - Second Floor
scan574.gif - Third Floor
scan575.gif - Fourth Floor
scan576.gif - Fifth Floor
scan577.gif - Sixth Floor
scan578.gif - Seventh Floor
scan579.gif - Roof Plan
scan580.gif - Smith Street Elevation
scan581.gif - Lt. Oxford St. Elevation
scan582.gif - Sections AA & BB
scan583.gif - Sections CC & DD
scan584.gif - Sections EE & FF
scan585.gif - Smith St. Sectional Axo 1
scan586.gif - Smith St. Sectional Axo 2
scan587.gif - Lt. Oxford St. Sectional Axo 1
scan588.gif - Lt. Oxford St. Sectional Axo 2
scan589.gif - Nth boundary Sectional Axo
scan590.gif - South boundary Sectional Axo
scan591.gif - Smith St. Elevation Close 1
scan592.gif - Smith St. Elevation Close 2
scan593.gif - Nth boundary Elevation
scan594.gif - Lt. Oxford St. Elevation Close 1
scan595.gif - Lt. Oxford St. Elevation Close 2
scan596.gif - Sth boundary Elevation
scan597.gif - Detail Part Sections

Banco's new plans are still an ambit claim, they have made no effort to address community and expert concerns - compare 2004 and 2005 plans.

View/download ComparisonTable.pdf

Planning Minister Rob Hulls' Priority Development Panel - set up to advise on Yarra's Smith Street interim structure plan and 'Banco's' Smith Street development proposal - has been under sustained attack from local politicians and residents. Resident parties slammed the Panel for appearing to pre-determine its decision in support of Banco's plans without substantive deliberation. Local MP Richard Wynne, former Yarra Mayor Kay Meadows, and Save Our Suburbs President Ian Quick all criticised the Panel for going ahead with an expert group to 'tweak' Banco's plans without resident representation.

Collingwood Action Group spokesperson Earl Sakareassen said today that residents had participated in the Panel process in good faith but were disappointed and felt it was skewed in favour of developers. 'There is now a set of "tweaked" plans on the table produced under the Panel's direction that have an undeserved status. They contravene Yarra's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan and fail to address the concerns of experts and the 1500 objectors to Banco's original plans on issues such as height, bulk, mass, design, amenity, heritage and the environment'.

While residents had taken up the Panel's invitation to comment on the 'tweaked' plans, they made clear to the Panel that their response should not be taken as agreement that the process was fair or reasonable. The residents also stressed that the lack of resident representation in 'tweaking' Banco's did not imply either consent to the process or acceptance of the views of others' experts involved in that process.

The residents' submission criticised the changes made in the 'tweaked' plans as inadequate, minimalist, and cosmetic. 'While we welcome any steps to improve the design - given the site's massive size and its location in a heritage precinct - superficial cosmetic changes to things such as zinc cladding on units and a modest setback for apartments on top of a heritage building are completely inadequate'.
Residents restated their position that the gap between height and bulk set out in Yarra's Smith Street Interim Structure Plan and the height and bulk of Banco's plans were such that any ratification of the interim controls would demand Banco's application be rejected in its current or 'tweaked' form.

Mr Sakareassen said, 'Our community picket of the Banco site demonstrates our total opposition to the proposed development. We are continuing the public campaign to stop this proposal in its tracks'. According to Mr Sakareassen, many people on Smith Street are shocked that Banco's development could still go ahead, 'They don't understand the planning system and believe that Council's refusal of Banco's planning permit earlier this year should have been the end of the matter. And they don't understand why it seems the community is being ignored'.

FOR MEDIA COMMENT
Collingwood Action Group, Earl Sakareassen 0425 748 888
Yarra Council, Cllr Steve Jolly 0437 856 713
Save our Suburbs, President Ian Quick 0422 479 540

So to celebrate this:
Collingwood Action Group is holding a Priority Inquiry Seeking Strategies for Urban Planning (PISS-UP) and would like you to form part of the panel.

The CAG PISS-UP will convene at:
Grace Darling Hotel, crnr Peel & Smith Streets, 7pm Thursday 15 December 2005
and will consider the following issues:
- An application from Wanko Pty Ltd to build a 39 storey apartment block on the Shrine of Remembrance, with copper detailing and spangled louvres referencing the topography of Gallipoli Beach to preserve the reverence of the site.
- Minor alterations to Eastfield Heritage Shopping Mall (formerly St Patrick's Cathedral)
- New CAE design course, 'Tweaking: a One-day workshop', for busy developers and governments who would like to try refashioning an entire city but can't find time in their schedule for planning or design. Tweaking allows you to design whole city blocks in your spare time. Location: Carlton campus (Brunetti's) 7.30am-8.30 am. Equipment: pencil, napkin (if you are building an entire new suburb please bring an extra napkin) ruler, or flat edge of something.
- Public transport - what was it? A CAG historian explains.
- Drink! Food - green wedges will be provided! (hurry - they'll be gobbled up faster than you could possibly believe!).

All welcome!
Collingwood Action Group 26 Cambridge Street Collingwood VIC 3066 E cag@smithstreet.org P 0425 748 888 W http://cag.smithstreet.org/

PS Don't forget - Send Planning Minister Hulls a Christmas message asking him to knock back Banco's plans using CAG's latest easy to complete on-line petition at http://cag.smithstreet.org/.