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SmithStreet.org « CAG « Letters « CAG SEEKS MEETING WITH PLANNING MINISTER BEFORE SMITH STREET DECISION

In a letter to Planning Minister Hulls, CAG asks him to ignore Panel and reject Banco's Smith Street plans

Without prejudice

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