Smith Street tower in too-hard basket

THE campaign against a large development in Smith Street has hit a snag with Yarra Council's planning department failing to make a ruling within the 60-day statutory time limit. Report by Ben Schneiders in The Melbourne Times [16 June 2004].

By Ben Schneiders

THE campaign against a large development in Smith Street has hit a snag with Yarra Council's planning department failing to make a ruling within the 60-day statutory time limit.

The deadline passed more than a week ago, and leaves the door open for developer Banco to take the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Collingwood Action Group (CAG) spokesman Dominik Kucera said the council had had enough time to make a decision.

"It should have been sufficient for officers to recommend rejection," he said.

"Tactically the council has been put in a very poor strategic position from our perspective."

The proposed multi-tower development at 132-170 Smith Street includes 245 apartments and a supermarket.

The council received a record number of objections.

A recent audit into Yarra's planning department found that a large number of difficult applications were not processed within the 60-day time limit.

Councillor Deborah Di Natale was disappointed, but said it was a complex and large application.

"It's very clear that council will not accept the development," she said.

Resident activist Ian Quick said the rules were inflexible. "It's ridiculous council only has 60 days on such large developments."

The development is seen as a test case for the State Government's Melbourne 2030 planning scheme, which encourages development in activity centres.

"It's a good opportunity for the (planning) minister to step in and tell us what she expects to deliver with Melbourne 2030," Cr Di Natale said.