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SmithStreet.org « CAG « Media Releases « PLANNING MINISTER HULLS CALLS 'TIME OUT' FOR BANCO ON SMITH STREET

CAG congratulates Planning Minister Rob Hulls for listening to the community by calling in Banco's controversial development proposal for Smith Street, Collingwood, listed for a VCAT hearing on Monday 19th September.

INFORMATION RELEASE
Monday 8 August 2005

Planning Minister Hulls calls "time out" for Banco on Smith Street

Today Planning Minister Rob Hulls called in Banco's controversial development proposal for Smith Street, Collingwood, listed for a VCAT hearing on Monday 19th September.

Collingwood Action Group spokesperson, Mr Earl Sakareassen, congratulated Minister Hulls for listening to the community by calling in Banco's plans.

CAG had written to Hulls asking him to call in Banco's application, and appoint an independent panel to consider the plans together with Yarra Council's recently adopted Smith Street Interim Structure Plan.

The call in is unanimously supported by Yarra Council and other residents groups 3068, South Fitzroy Residents Group, and Save our Suburbs. Local MP, Richard Wynne - on the public record as opposing Banco's plans for being an ambit claim - recently acted to formally ask the Minister to intervene.

The Banco development would see three high-rise apartment towers, a shopping mall, and massive underground car park in the heart of Collingwood and Fitzroy. Last year the proposal attracted a record 1500 objections before finally being rejected by Yarra Council in February this year, triggering Banco's VCAT appeal.

Mr Sakareassen said it was encouraging that Minister Hulls is on side and appears empathetic with community concerns. CAG wants the Minister to reject the development, and ensure Banco comes up with a more appropriate plan for the site, that reflects the community's vision for the Smith Street precinct.

According to Mr Sakareassen, CAG's recent campaigning on Smith Street showed clear community opposition to Banco's development proposal. 'We have collected hundreds of signatures on petitions and hundreds more electronic petitions have been sent to the Minister asking him to reject these plans. People who live, work and visit Smith Street say no to Banco's development because of its inappropriate scale and the negative impact it would have on the streetscape, heritage, environment, cultural diversity and amenity'.

FOR MEDIA COMMENT
Collingwood Action Group, Earl Sakareassen 0425 748 888
South Fitzroy Residents Group, Sivy Orr 0411 047 399
Yarra Council, Cllr Steve Jolly 0437 856 713
Save our Suburbs, Ian Quick 9421 2373
State Member for Richmond, Richard Wynne, 9429 1813