Inner urban conservation and development - An independent panel report on a proposal for Smith Street, Collingwood, under Melbourne 2030. Edited by Miles Lewis, August 2004. Info + Order your copy
Call to Arms to have a say on Yarra Council’s plans for Smith Street
Smith Street in Collingwood and Fitzroy appears set to remain a development hot spot as Yarra Council moves swiftly to finalise an Urban Design Framework for the Smith Street Precinct, despite community concerns. The Framework will fix future development parameters from Alexandra Parade to Johnston Street. It is a key agenda item at Council’s public meeting on 23rd March at Collingwood Town Hall, along with a status report on Banco’s proposal for Smith Street.
The threat of massive, high-rise development on Smith Street has hung over the community since December 2003 when Banco – developers of Lygon Court – first submitted plans for 3 towers rising to 9 stories, 24 hour supermarket, 250 apartments and 400 space car park. Although the original plans attracted a record 1500 objections Yarra Council failed to make a decision within the prescribed 60 day period.
In November 2004, Yarra decided to allow Banco to substitute revised plans but the developer failed to meet its own deadline of 31 January 2005. In February this year Council finally refused the Application citing concerns about inconsistencies with state and local planning policies and heritage guidelines, insufficient car parking and impacts on local traffic, non-compliant loading facilities, and poor amenity for future residents and adjacent properties.
Yarra also wrote to the new Minister for Planning – Rob Hulls – asking that he ‘call in’ the planning application if the Applicant appealed to VCAT. The developer’s appeal rights expire on 7 April 2005.
Collingwood Action Group (CAG) spokesperson Ms Cliodhna Rae said the group was concerned about the process Yarra has adopted for developing the Framework and drafting its content. According to Ms Rae, CAG is of the opinion that Council has skipped important steps in community consultation, rushed the process, and produced a draft that ignores significant community and expert concerns about Banco’s proposal raised over the past year.
Ms Rae said CAG understood the risks of Council not having this Framework in place while undertaking the longer process of developing a Structure Plan for the precinct. However as Ms Rae pointed out, Yarra didn’t make a decision about Banco’s proposal for over eight months yet now wants to rush the community through a policy development process with minimal consultation. ‘Yarra Council has also refused to comply with State Government planning guidelines that prescribe how to develop these plans’ said Ms Rae. ‘CAG has repeatedly raised these matters with Yarra yet our views are being ignored’.
CAG had written to the Minister for Planning affirming its support for Yarra Council to undertake appropriate consultation to get this right, but stressing it would not endorse a rushed process. Ms Rae said CAG felt sure that if the Minister for Planning was satisfied steady progress was being made on the Framework with appropriate consultation, he would not penalize the Council and community if he were to ‘call in’ Banco’s planning application.
According to Ms Rae, Council’s early internal draft framework CAG had seen would allow precisely the type of development proposed by Banco as well as fail to provide certainty for developers and the community alike. Another matter of contention was Council’s decision to exclude the section of Smith Street from Johnston Street to Alexandra Parade, apparently in the interests of further speeding up the process. CAG was relieved by Council’s assurance that this draft has no status.
CAG believes that Smith Street is an iconic Melbourne Street and its future is a matter of public interest to all Victorians. Its status as one of Victoria’s most important 19th century commercial streetscapes saw it recently classified by the National Trust. Smith Street is also a favoured destination for people from all across Melbourne and Victoria, from interstate even overseas. They are attracted by Smith Street’s quirkiness, bohemian character, entertainment, culture, diversity, heritage and atmosphere.
Ms Rae urged people in Fitzroy and Collingwood to turn up to Yarra’s public meeting – Wednesday 23 March at 7pm, Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford – and tell Council what they want for Smith Street. ‘This may be our last chance to have a say about our future – Smith Street’s heritage, amenity, culture and diversity will be destroyed if Council’s allowed to introduce planning policies favouring developers’ profits at the expense of community values and neighbourhood character’.
Ms Rae reiterated CAG’s commitment to continue working with Yarra Council on this issue. CAG had agreed to play a lead role in the public meeting’s session on the Banco proposal. CAG was also working with key Langridge Ward Councillors and keeping local MP Richard Wynne informed. All are on record as opposing Banco’s development proposal.
FOR MEDIA COMMENT
Collingwood Action Group, Cliodhna Rae ph 0414 268 579 or contact us via email.
Yarra Langridge Ward Councillors,
Steve Jolly ph 0437856713, Jenny Farrar ph 0402113284, Annabel Barbara ph 0416268126
Posted by CAG