“Rather than respecting the process, they are going back to the same rejected plans and hoping the government will give them a free pass. If minister Kilkenny approves this, it proves that planning laws only exist for those who can’t afford to lobby their way around them,” Deacon said.
One of the protesters rallying against Woolworths’ revised development proposal on the site of the former ABC studios in Elsternwick.Credit: Wayne Taylor
The City of Glen Eira has urged the planning minister to refer the application to a special advisory committee, arguing VCAT’s decision set an important precedent that should not be overturned without rigorous independent assessment.
Rebecca McKenzie, CEO of Glen Eira, wrote to Kilkenny last month that the site had been “the subject of an exhaustive process since 2018” and was ultimately approved with conditions by VCAT.
“The current application seeks to wind back all of these requirements that were imposed by VCAT,” McKenzie wrote.
Pace has framed its revamped proposal as a “response to the ongoing housing crisis experience in Victoria”.
The developer’s planning report, submitted with the fast-track application, notes that the site “currently benefits from a planning permit for a nine-storey development, issued at the direction of [VCAT] on 07 September 2022”.
“In response to the ongoing housing crisis experience in Victoria, Pace Development Group seeks to refine the development to deliver additional housing. This will crucially include a minimum 10 per cent dedicated to affordable housing,” the report says.
It also includes three more storeys on the southern tower and one extra storey on the northern tower.
Elsternwick resident Lyn Campbell in her backyard, which VCAT found would be unreasonably affected by overlooking. Credit: Wayne Taylor
Elsternwick resident Lyn Campbell lives behind the disused ABC studios, in a heritage-listed Victorian-era house named Glenmoore.
Her backyard, which includes a tennis court and a swimming pool, would be unreasonably affected by overlooking from the southern tower’s apartment balconies, according to VCAT’s 2022 judgment, which imposed extra setbacks in response.
Woolworths and Pace are seeking to delete those agreed setbacks in their latest application.
“We sit out there all the time,” Campbell said. “So the VCAT decision sought to protect us from overlooking and loss of privacy by limiting the number of families that could directly see into our property.”
A render of the Woolworths/Pace proposal that was rejected by the City of Glen Eira before being approved by VCAT with conditions.Credit: Woolworths
Campbell, who spearheaded Sunday’s community rally, argued that if Woolworths was sincerely committed to providing affordable housing, it would do so within its current permit for 134 apartments.
The rally was disrupted by economist Tom Hird, and three young adults, who stood among the demonstrators holding signs that read, “Let others live here too” and “Don’t be selfish, share Elsternwick”. Hird heckled Liberal politicians David Southwick and Riordan as they addressed the rally, and was challenged by several members of the demonstration, whose signs read, “Woolies are Bullies” and “Seven years of No means No”.
“I’m a local resident and I’m just angry about people being selfish,” Hird later told The Age.
“I’m not a political party member or being paid by a developer, I’m a professional economist and I see the disaster that is planning in Melbourne and across Australia and, frankly, across the western world, and it’s made me angry. I saw this demonstration and I thought, my kids are 24, 22, living at home, no prospect of moving out, because of this.”
Riordan said the community had been through a seven-year ordeal and ultimately accepted a compromise plan to build 134 apartments.
“This community has done more than enough in its preparedness to allow for more housing and services in a responsible way. We cannot have a system where we take the voice and choice from neighbourhoods,” he said.
Josh Burns, the federal Labor MP for Macnamara, said the community had made it clear three years ago that Woolworths needed to compromise.
“This decision should not be re-litigated. A fair process has already happened, and a fair outcome was agreed to. The original decision by VCAT should stand,” Burns said.
The Allan government declined to comment while the proposal is being considered.
Woolworths has been contacted for comment.
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