The Port Melbourne Triangle @ 1-11 Waterfront Place

The Port Melbourne Triangle @

1-11 Waterfront Place

SAVE YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD from OVER-DEVELOPMENT

Click here for a PDF version of the following.

THE ISSUE:

The original Mirvac Beacon Cove development included low rise community facilities at 1 – 11 Waterfront Place, comprising a gymnasium, swimming pool, crèche and convenience store along with the Tram 109 terminus.

There was an existing 3 level height limit (“Commercial and Leisure Precinct” section of “Beacon Cove Precinct Plan No 1”) on this building when the property was bought by the current private developers. As recently as January 2011 these height restrictions were supported by our Port Phillip Council in a submission to the Victorian Government.

In stark contrast Council’s recently released Draft Urban Design Framework (UDF) includes a high rise development on this site with 2 very substantial towers of 10 and 14 levels. Copy available at http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/portmelb-udf-draft-v21-091211.pdf

WHY DOES THE BEACON COVE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION (BCNA) COMMITTEE OPPOSE THIS DEVELOPMENT?

 Our concerns about this high rise development include:

·         Overpowering domination of Waterfront Place, and destruction of the ambience of and vista from Waterfront Place, Beach Street and Park Square

·         Loss of community facilities and green space included in the original Beacon Cove plan.

·         Inconsistency with the views expressed by residents during the consultation phase, including through the formally established Community Reference Committee. Council’s draft UDF repeatedly emphasizes their commitment to consultation – but then chooses to ignore the advice that has been given.

·         Blocking of the vista of the city skyline and significant detraction from the first view of Melbourne for the increasing numbers of interstate and international visitors disembarking on Station Pier, (as evidenced in the above diagram which is taken directly from the draft UDF document).

·         Very significant increase in traffic movements and congestion around the intersection near the previous London Hotel and along Beach Street with consequent adverse impact on access and safety for all Beacon Cove residents and visitors to the area.

·         Failure to acknowledge low rise heights of buildings in closer vicinity. The draft UDF justifies the 10/14 storey height with reference to the height of the 5 Beacon Cove towers. The closest of these is a good 100 metres further along the waterfront. Why does the UDF not acknowledge the lower heights in the immediate vicinity (London Hotel and Beach Rd buildings to the East; heritage Railway Station, convenience store and low level residential/commercial buildings to the West)?

·         Complete lack of respect for the heritage status of the railway station which will be dwarfed by the towering building immediately adjacent to it.

HOW CAN YOUR VOICE BE HEARD?

 Council and Councillors have a responsibility to respect the views of their ratepayers.

BCNA will continue to lobby on this issue and it is vital that Council also hears from individual residents/families who share our concerns about this proposed development. To have your say:  

 Lobby City of Port Phillip Mayor and Councillors: 

      ·         Contribute to CoPP formal consultation process from 5 February – 9 March 2012

              “Conversation tent sessions” on: 

Saturday 11^thFebruary, 9:00 – 12:00 noon – Bay Street, outside Coles

                          Saturday 18^thFeb 8:30 – 11:30am at Gasworks Farmers Market

                “Community drop in session” (specifically about the draft UDF)

                            Wednesday 29^thFeb 4:30 – 7:00pm near tram terminus, Waterfront Place 

·         Submit your views to the “Have Your Say” section of the City of Port Phillip website http://haveyoursayatportphillip.net.au/  

·        Contact our local Councillor, Janet Bolitho, our Mayor Rachel Powning, Kay Rundle CEO, and Carrie White, Place Manager Port Melbourne, City of Port Phillip

             Email:jbolitho@portphillip.vic.gov.au: rpowning@portphillip.vic.gov.au  or
              mayor@portphillip.vic.gov.au: krundle@portphillip.vic.gov.au:
              cwhite2@portphillip.vic.gov.au
             Mail: The Mayor and Councilors, City of Port Phillip, PO Box 3, Post Office, St Kilda, 3182
             Phone: Councillor Janet Bolitho 0411 096 400

·         Attend and speak at Council meetings:

Ordinary Meetings of Council -Tuesday 14^th Feb 6:00pm South Melbourne Town Hall,

             and Tuesday 28^th Feb, 6:00pm, St Kilda Town Hall
             Statutory Planning Committee meeting – Tuesday 21^st Feb 6:00pm, St Kilda Town Hall


Publicise the issue through local and general media:

·         Contact our local newspapers- The Melbourne Weekly – Port Phillip

              Email: yourvoice@fairfax.com.au
              Mail: The Editor, The Melbourne Weekly, PO Box4569, Melbourne 3001

And/or “0pinion” Port Phillip Leader

              Email: theleader@leadernewspapers.com.au
              Mail: The Editor, Caulfield/Port Phillip Leader, Level 2, 636 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004

·         Contact The Age

             http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/submit

·         Contact The Herald Sun

              http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/letter

PLEASE discuss this issue with your neighbours and Beacon Cove friends and act now! 

BCNA Committee contacts:

Email: secretarybcna@gmail.com

President:             Eddie Micallef   0413 127 422  Committee Members:   Ro Holmes            9646 1961

Vice President:    Greg Mate          9681 7441                                                  Bob Harrison        9645 2115
Secretary:             Trevor Nink        0404 084 283                                            Robyn McKenna   9646 5259
Treasurer:             Dana Hlavacek   9646 8850                                                 Glenda Beale        9676 2151