July 2004

2004-07-07

Informal preliminary meeting convened by City of Yarra with Applicant and CAG representatives in attendance. Issues discussed included heritage, Applicant's concerns about CAG's meetings with Council; CAG's concerns about Applicant's lengthy history of meetings with Council; Applicant's concerns re whether CAG could 'control' individuals unhappy with outcome and the potential impact on discussions; Applicant's indication the plans were not an ambit claim; view that discussions could continue in good faith; Council's statement that 'we are in a statutory process'; Applicant's confirmation that they would delay lodging a 'failure to determine' in VCAT until 19/7/04; agreement that main areas of contention were heritage, built form, traffic management and amenity; CAG's request for an independent facilitator; agreement that Council would give one week's notice of proposed meeting with agenda distributed prior. In attendance: CAG representatives; For the Applicant Rowena Barnes (Fulcrum Town Planners), Stuart McGurn (Fulcrum Town Planners), Mario Lo Guidice (Banco), Peter Lovell (Allom Lovell, heritage consultants), representative from Jan & Manton (architects); For City of Yarra, Jane Homewood (Manager Urban Planning), Mary Osman (planning officer) and external consultants Rob McGauran (urban design), Bryce Raworth (heritage). It was agreed to hold a series of meetings over four weeks covering issues including heritage, built form and traffic, and that these meetings would be subject to confidentiality provisions insisted by Council and the Applicant.

2004-07-23

CAG issues media release - 'Planning battle goes on-line @ www.smithstreet.org'.

2004-07-24

Richard Wynne MP, State Member for Richmond, launches CAG website at Sonsa on Smith Street. Website hosted by c2o / Toy Satellite, a local community based, multi-media, not for profit organisation.