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SmithStreet.org « CAG « News « Call to arms - Public mtg on Smith Street's future

Call to Arms – Yarra Council's public meeting on Smith Street's future development on 23rd March 2005 at 7pm.

The threat of massive, high-rise development on Smith Street continues despite Yarra Council finally refusing Banco's plans this February. Now Council is moving fast on a Smith Street Precinct Urban Design Framework that will set future development parameters for the Street in the block bounded by Victoria Parade, Wellington Street and Johnston Street.

The Collingwood Action Group has told Yarra Council it is concerned about its process for developing the Framework and its content. Yarra skipped important steps in community consultation, has rushed process, and produced a draft that ignores significant community and expert concerns about Banco’s proposal raised over the past year.

CAG's assessment of an early draft of the document is it will 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 is Council’s decision to exclude the section of Smith Street between Johnston Street and Alexandra Parade, apparently in the interests of speeding up the process. Other residents groups in the area share similar concerns.

Therefore it's vital people 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 community's last chance to have a say about our future. Smith Street’s heritage, amenity, culture, diversity will all be destroyed if Yarra Council introduces planning policies favouring developers’ profits at the expense of community values and neighbourhood character.

Council's website should have information about the public meeting, including an electronic version of the draft Framework for downloading and details of where to go to inspect these documents:

www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/environment/PL03-1407.asp