Residents rally again against Becton

By Alison Dean

THE Carlton Residents Association has vowed to continue to fight Becton's proposal for student accommodation opposite Melbourne University.

At a meeting yesterday, the residents were planning their attack, which included taking the amended plan, approved last week by Planning Minister Mary Delahunty, to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Association's president Sue Chambers said on Monday that the plan was not fundamentally different to the one already rejected by VCAT.

She said the proposed buildings on the site, bordered by Swanston, Elgin, Cardigan and Faraday streets, were too high, too bulky and destroyed the heritage character of the area.

"We don't think the plan meets the tribunal's test," Ms Chambers said.

"There is a nick out of the Swanston Street building, but it is added on elsewhere ... There will still be 547 units on the site."

The association argued that 402 units was the maximum number of units suitable for a site of that size.

Ms Delahunty originally approved Becton's 11-storey plan, just before Christmas 2002. But VCAT overturned the decision late last year, labelling it a "repetitive, monotonous block" and directing the developer to "a fundamental redesign".

The association is now lobbying Melbourne City Council, joint objector in the case to VCAT last year, to oppose the latest plans.