During 23-25 March, VCAT heard the appeal by the developer of 1-7 Waterfront Place against the City of Port Phillip’s conditions to the planning permit granted last June.
The conditions passed by Council last June are about minimising overshadowing beyond the southern kerb line along Waterfront Place at the June solstice, by permitting shadow in the morning but not the afternoon. The minimisation of new shadow on the foreshore is a requirement of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.
Residents and the BCNA are eager to see this issue resolved and new facilities constructed at Waterfront Place. However, we also believe the community values the light-filled area along Waterfront Place, the section of Beach St foreshore near the Princes St roundabout, and opposite the London Hotel - the Waterfront Place bike and pedestrian paths are currently free of overshadowing all year round.
Accordingly, BCNA’s submission supported the Council position and explained that the foreshore is highly valued by the community. We noted that an objective of planning policy has been “to protect and enhance the environment of the Port Melbourne foreshore as an important natural, recreational and tourism asset for metropolitan Melbourne”. The submission included discussion about VCAT decisions for nearby sites, such as the London Hotel site at 92 Beach Street.
The BCNA thanks David Brand, architect and former City of Port Phillip Concillor; Jennie Jones, BCNA member and town planner; Peter Barber, Urban Edge Consultants; and Angus Wallace, Plico Design Studio, for advice provided in the preparation of our submission.
VCAT’s decision is expected in about 6-8 weeks.