BCNA Urges Government Purchase of 1-7 Waterfront Place

The BCNA is urging the Victorian Government to purchase the site at 1-7 Waterfront Place. It is currently “in limbo” following the owner’s decision to withdraw a planning application at a Planning Advisory Committee hearing in November.

The BCNA believes it should be purchased for use by the community, visitors and the Victorian Ports Corporation.

The site was designed as an integral part of the award-winning Mirvac planned community at Beacon Cove in the early 1990s. Development of this area was designed to be low density as a balance to the medium and high density of the remainder of Beacon Cove - a place for the community to meet and to participate in sports and recreation. Unfortunately, it was sold to private interests in the early 2000s.

The BCNA believes the site should be developed in ways that are complementary to the Beacon Cove vision for community facilities, while at the same time incorporating improvements to enhance port efficiency. This should be a co-operative effort involving State, Commonwealth and local governments which the BCNA has been advocating for some time.

Purchase of the site has the following advantages:

• Strategic Planning for the entire Waterfront Place Precinct can consider all sites and can commence immediately.
• A source of uncertainty (the threat of residential development) is removed, enabling the redevelopment of Station Pier to proceed.
• Removes a source of uncertainty for the community as well as businesses dependant on the port.

The BCNA will be advocating for purchase of the site at meetings with VicPorts, The Hon. Martin Foley, MP, Ward Councillors and with Victorian Government representatives.