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SmithStreet.org « CAG « Timeline « October 2004

2004-10-04

Letter to CAG from Councillor Kay Meadows, Mayor, City of Yarra responding to CAG's correspondence of 27 September 2004. The Mayor inter alia acknowledges the report Inner Urban Conservation and Development 'will certainly form an important part of the context in any report to Council on the Application'; advises 'council officers have had informal phone discussions with DSE regional office'; states 'council requested the Minister to provide interim controls based on Amendment C43, which include the Smith St site in 30 June 2003 and again on 21 June 2004'; says 'Council does not have a fixed view about how the matter should proceed' and 'the fact that Council is currently operating under caretaker provisions because of the forthcoming Council elections has no impact on the consideration of or decisions about the application'; 'Council is happy to participate in or convene a further public forum about the application'.

2004-10-04

Facilitated meeting convened by City of Yarra with Applicant and CAG representatives in attendance - held under enforced confidentiality provisions insisted by Council and the Applicant. Stuart McGurn (Fulcrum Town Planners) for Applicant tables 'without prejudice' revised schematic drawings for Smith Street. CAG representatives given 'permission' to consult with CAG Committee on schematic drawings with a view to CAG advising a position at the last of the meetings on 18 October 2004. 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); For City of Yarra, Jane Homewood (Manager Urban Planning), Mary Osman (planning officer) and external consultants Rob McGauran (urban design), Bryce Rayworth (heritage).

2004-10-05

Letter to CAG from Richard Wynne MP, State Member for Richmond reiterating his commitment to working with CAG 'to bring about a satisfactory outcome in relation to the planning application at 132-172 Smith Street', and advising inter alia that 'it is not appropriate at this stage to have a formal discussion with the Planning Minister, as you are still in discussion with the developer and the Council'; 'I am keeping the government at all levels fully appraised of this project'; 'I have ensured that the Minister has received a copy of the Panel Report and that they are fully aware of the issues discussed in it'.

2004-10-08

CAG raises issues with City of Yarra regarding the Applicant's schematic drawings for a revised Smith Street development and requests Council advise its position specifically about a number of issues parking; public environment; heritage; built form; height; supermarket size; services; retail mix; EDS; architecture; traffic; amenity.

2004-10-14

CAG representatives meet with City of Yarra regarding the Applicant's schematic drawings for a revised Smith Street scheme tabled on 4 October 2004, and to consider Council's response to preliminary issues raised by CAG on 8 October 2004. In attendance from Yarra Council are Councillors Kay Meadows (Mayor); Greg Barber (Mackillop Ward); Judy Morton (Chair of Council's Planning Committee); Council Officers Jon Brock (Director of City Development); Jane Homewood (Manager Urban Planning); and external consultant Bruce Turner, facilitator of the enforced confidential meetings with CAG, Council and the Applicant. CAG tables a motion (passed on 14/10/04) stating inter alia that Council should 'urgently commence an information and consultation strategy with appropriate time frames that reaches the wider community, especially targeting the 1500 who objected to the planning application'; the Applicant's revised plans do not address key areas (such as amenity impacts, height, heritage, streetscape impacts, retail mix, traffic and transportation) including those raised in CAG's Interim Submission and the Panel Report Inner Urban Conservation and Development; and the timeframe required for further expert input, further research and broader community consultation on the revised plans means that a decision on this planning application cannot be made before the November 2004 Council elections.' Council tables a preliminary response to issues raised by CAG on 8 October 2004. It is agreed that there is insufficient time to discuss all issues identified by CAG and for Council to respond adequately.

2004-10-18

Final in series of enforced confidential facilitated meetings with City of Yarra, Applicant, and CAG representatives. Facilitated by Bruce Turner for City of Yarra. In attendance: For Applicant - Mario Lo Guidice (Banco); Stuart McGurn (Fulcrum Town Planners); Rowena Barnes (Fulcrum Town Planners); Chris Manton (Jan & Manton, architects); Jason Walsh (Grogan Richards, traffic consultant). For City of Yarra - Councillors Kay Meadows (Mayor) and Judy Morton (Chair of Planning Committee); Officers Jon Brock (Director, City Development); Jane Homewood (Manager, Urban Planning), Mary Osman, Cassandra McMaster (planning officers); external consultant Bryce Raworth (heritage). Issues discussed include residential and parking mix; retail mix; environment; built form; streetscape height on Smith Street; privacy and overlooking; and heritage.

2004-10-22

CAG writes to Councillor Kay Meadows, Mayor City of Yarra advising CAG's position on the Applicant's schematic drawings, acknowledging the revised scheme is moving in the direction, stating key areas of community concern are still unresolved (e.g. those identified in experts' report Inner Urban Conservation and Development; Fargo's essay in the report on 'Equitable Design Envelope'; and CAG's Interim Submission) and indicating the schematic drawings are too abstract and ill defined to develop a definitive position. CAG requests future community consultation be transparent and comprehensive, and commits to continued participation in discussions under new terms.

2004-10-22

CAG writes to Minister for Planning, Mary Delahunty MP, with a courtesy copy of correspondence to the City of Yarra (dated 22 October 2004), and requesting the Minister call in the planning application.

2004-10-23

CAG issues media release - 'Smith Street development proposal moving in right direction'

2004-10-26

Letter to CAG from Department of Sustainability & Environment acknowledging receipt of CAG's correspondence to Minister for Planning.

2004-10-27

Letter to CAG from Department of Sustainability & Environment responding to CAG's correspondence to Minister for Planning, advising that 'in view of the process which is currently in train, it would be inappropriate for the Minister to intervene in this matter' but the Department 'will continue to monitor the progress of the application'.