westhawthorn.org

 From the marvellousmelbourne.org website:

JOIN OVER 120 RESIDENT GROUPS FROM CITY, COAST & COUNTRY

TO TELL PREMIER BRUMBY & MINISTER MADDEN:

“We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take this anymore.”

NO! to stripping away our right to object/appeal. NO! to stripping away council’s planning powers.

Public Meeting at the Clocktower (Town Hall)
750 Mt Alexander Rd.  Moonee Valley
Melway Ref.28 J6 Tram 59 ..Airport West from Elizabeth St.
Broadmeadows Train to Moonee Ponds (Sundays  for seniors)

SUNDAY 6TH JULY 2.30-4.00pm

1. NEW RESIDENTIAL ZONES.

Will take away our rights to be notified   or to object or to appeal about planning applications.   Will impose unacceptable heights in all residential areas across Victoria.

2. TAKEOVER OF COUNCIL PLANNING POWERS  BY THE STATE   has started without any consultation.  It starts in certain activity centres and will slowly spread everywhere.

All this development with no increase in public transport or other infrastructure.

MELBOURNE’S LIVABILTY RATING DOWN TO NUMBER 17 AND DROPPING.

Come to the meeting and demand our democratic rights

Organized by a network of community and residential groups across city country coast supporting PLANNING BACKLASH Tel 0401 834 899.

The State Goverment has initiated a review of residential zones in Victoria.

Three new zones are proposed. The Substantial Change Zone to promote a significant increase in new dwellings. Appropriate locations are areas “…. close to community facilities and services, employment or public transport.” For this zone, any specified maximum building height cannot be less than 12 metres (4 storey).

The Incremental Change Zone is seen as applying to “….most of Victoria’s towns and suburbs where modest residential development can occur.” That means mostly single storey existing development yet the proposed zone provisions require that any maximum height specified cannot be less than 9 metres (3 storeys). Of course the usual reassuring nonsense is stated - in this case, that the purpose of the zone is to respect existing neighbourhood character. We know from experience how much weight that will carry at VCAT.

The third zone is a Limited Change Zone intended to recognise specific characteristics to be protected and provide limited opportunity for increased housing.

Perhaps most concerning is the intention to restrict advertising of development proposals where “…. there is limited offsite impact.” And guess who will decide when the offsite impact is limited?

The full proposal can be viewed at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au. Feedback can be submitted until April 18.

At the meeting on Monday 17th March the Boroondara council unanimously supported local residents by seeking to alter the WHUDF to reinstate the proper meaning of “low rise” development for the area around Hawthorn Square. In response to a letter signed by approximately 400 residents and personal representations at the meeting, the council will seek to alter the height limit to two storeys with a third storey set back. The council will also seek to correct the accidental deletion of the public space provision at the front of Hawthorn Square.

The next step will be to ensure that the community’s voice is heard and make sure that the controls are not watered down by the planning minister.

Note: the meeting starts at 7.45, not 7.30 as stated earlier. 

The council meeting is going ahead on Monday March 17th to discuss the West Hawthorn Urban Design Framework. The report on this item is on the Council web site - click on “Meetings and Agendas”, and then on UPC Meeting, 17 March. The meeting starts at 7.45pm. The WHUDF Amendment is UPC3, Item 4. Or click here to go straight to the agenda.

Its important that we get as may people to the meeting as possible to express the community’s concern over this issue. Hope you can make it.

The extensive community consultation process followed in the preparation of the West Hawthorn Urban Design Framework (WHUDF) was valued by the West Hawthorn Community. However, the proposals for the West Hawthorn Villiage precinct have been changed in two major respects without further community consultation.

• The public space at the Burwood Road/Power Street corner has been deleted.
• The maximum three storey height limit proposed for the precinct has been amended on three major sites to allow for five storey development.

Some residents have organised a letter to be signed to alert council of the stong feeling in the community over this issue. If you can help getting further signitures to this letter, please get in contact with us.

It looks like this will be discussed at council on the 17 March, so if you can attend that meeting it would be very much appreciated.

The Elgin Inn have applied to conduct works to build a rooftop deck and to waive the standard car parking requirements. There have been 22 objections to this proposal (a very high number given the minimal notice that local residents were given).

The Urban Planning Committee (UPC) is considering the hotel’s application 8:00pm this Monday (18^th February) in the Council Chambers, first floor, 8 Ingelsby Road, Camberwell. We need as many objectors as possible to attend this meeting; otherwise this development will probably get the seal of approval. Please attend this meeting if you can.

A permit has been granted by VCAT for the development to proceed on the land at 108 Power Street. With Boroondara council withdrawing almost all their objections at the 11th hour, it was highly unlikely that the decision would go any other way.

The Member Ian Potts did reject many of the proponents arguments (for example using the VATMI site as a precedent), however it looks as though the West Hawthorn Urban Design Framework has not only failed to prevent an inappropriate development in the area, but has been used as the justification for it.

Click here for the full decision (MS Word format)

On the last business day before the VCAT hearing the Boroondara council has dropped its last ground for objection (traffic management) for the proposed development at 108 Power Street. Council however will seek to impose controls on the vehicle access to the site at the VCAT hearing.

The VCAT hearing for the proposed development at 108 Power Street Hawthorn has been set down for Monday September 3. In response to residents and council objections the developer has amended their proposal to bring it more in line with the West Hawthorn Urban Design Framework. However, this is still a large development that will impact on the surrounding area. Residents are urged to attend the hearing if they can.

This site has been set up to help residents inform each other about developments in the local area. By having a central place to share information, we can be more effective in opposing inappropriate developments.

If anyone would like to help out with the site, please use the contact form or drop me a line at peter (at) westhawthorn.org