It is with utter disbelief that we read the following Officers’ Recommendation for the 10 storey proposed development in Ripon Grove, Elsternwick located in today’s agenda items –

Recommendation

That Council: Issues a Notice of Decision to Grant a Planning Permit for partial demolition and alterations and additions to the existing church at 12 Ripon Grove to comprise up to 18 dwellings; the construction of a 3 to 10 storey building at 233-247 Glen Huntly Road comprising 7 shops and up to 119 dwellings; use of dwellings in a Business 1 Zone (ground floor facing Ripon Grove); two levels of basement and the reduction of the standard car parking requirement and waiver of the loading bay requirement in accordance with the conditions contained in the Appendix.

Never has there been anything so vague, so ambiguous, and so pro-development as this report. How can any planner worth his salt recommend 3 to 10 stories – either it is 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. or 10!  Instead we have:

“It is acknowledged that the proposed building at 10 storeys in height represents a signifcant change. In considering the merits of the proposed 10 storey height, a number of contextual factors must be considered: The subject site contains several allotments adding up to an area of 3,450sqm. This represents a unique and major opportunity for significant redevelopment in this centre.”

A little further on, there is this gem: “Having regard to the site’s context and policy considerations, the 10 storey scale of the proposal is considered acceptable. It is a significant but policy-appropriate change of character that ought to be expected in this location and can be absorbed in this location given the contextual factors. A building of high architectural quality will be achieved. However, it is considered that some aspects of the proposal are inconsistent with the urban context of the site and will need refinement.”

As far as parking goes, we then have: “The Planning Scheme requires 358 car spaces for the combined shop and residential uses. The Planning Scheme acknowledges that the parking rates for each use can be waived or reduced. Council’s Traffic Engineering Department considers that a more realistic figure of 178 spaces for the proposal reflects anticipated car parking demand”.

We urge all residents to carefully read this report. It will soon be coming to your neighbourhood! If councillors do not reject this report, ask numerous questions about its findings and recommendations, then as Whitlam once said, ‘nothing will save them’!!!