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
INFORMATION RELEASE: LOCALS, RESIDENTS, UNIONS FIGHT ON TO SAY NO TO BANCO ON SMITH STREET - PUBLIC RALLY 1PM SATURDAY 4 MARCH
Locals, residents, unions and friends take to the streets in protest against Planning Minister Hulls' greenlight for Banco's Smith Street development.
COLLINGWOOD ACTION GROUP 26 CAMBRIDGE STREET COLLINGWOOD VIC 3066 WWW.SMITHSTREET.ORG/CAG CAG@SMIITHSTREET.ORG
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
Posted by CAG
Comments
From Roland Orchard on 27 Feb 2006:
This approval shows again the cosy relationship that is emerging with the Government and developers at the expense of the community. You had a sensible solution but the interests of shareholders in Banco are obviously more important than strong existing communities. This fight is all over Melb. in different forms. Bracks is presiding over a Gov.that is becoming more arrogant and wasteful of our communities and our taxes. Congratulations on standing up to this 'tryanny'.