PS – PLEASE NOTE MR BECK’S COMMENTS!
Caulfield Village developer to challenge Glen Eira Council conditions at VCAT
- July 30, 2014
THE billion dollar Caulfield Village residential and retail project north of the Caulfield Racecourse is headed for VCAT.
Developer Beck Probuild has lodged an appeal against Glen Eira’s Council’s conditional approval for the first development plan.
BPG Caulfield Village director Sam Beck said: “All we are doing is appealing the clarity and consistency of some of the minor conditions of the approved Development Plan which includes engineering, design and parking.’’
“We don’t see them as significant items and we believe that we can resolve them with the Glen Eira City Council.’’
Councillors want the developer to provide 130 publicly available off-street car spaces across the site to compensate for existing on-street parks that will be lost to the project.
They also want 127 car spaces in the Smith St Precinct for use by Caulfield Tabaret/Glasshouse patrons at all times during operating hours.
Those spaces are required as part of the MRC’s permit for the tabaret and will be lost to the Caulfield Village development.
Councillors approved the first development plan by six votes to three.
The hearing is listed for September 29 and 30.
Glen Eira Debates 
July 30, 2014 at 11:51 AM
If you look up Pakenham Racing Club on facebook you can see the following entry. Can anyone tell the Caulfield trainers they can now move out?
Pakenham Racing Club
July 28
Our new training facilities were opened this morning for a test run with three trainers and around 20 horses testing out the facility before we open up tomorrow for all approved trainers.
July 30, 2014 at 12:33 PM
I hope everyone in council is happy because they have sacrificed at least 40% of residents to what is becoming real slums.
July 30, 2014 at 2:41 PM
I’d be quite happy to lay bets that the Caulfield village proposal does not make it to vcat. Some neat little “compromise” will be reached between the two allies – the Melbourne Racing Club and the gang.
July 30, 2014 at 4:50 PM
Ain’t it amazing – small, insignificant and going to VCAT!!! I give this a credibility rating of zip.
Add to it that the Council changed the planning scheme to fit the development and the credibility rating takes a further hit, ending up somewhere near Werribee.
July 30, 2014 at 2:42 PM
The carve up of the municipality happened in 2002 – Housing Diversity vs. Minimal Change which provided for high density dwellings in shopping centres and transport routes. Glen Eira’s handling of the whole thing was sub-standard then and remained sub-standard when the new zones were implemented, in 2013, without any attempt by Council to inform residents of their impact. Council spin was height controls but no mention of the stripping away of residents rights to object or that Council would continue to do nothing with traffic and parking issues.
I’m wondering just where these people were in 2002 and 2013. These were the times to speak up. It was well publicised in the media (state and local, various websites and blogs).
Yeah, I feel sorry for these residents (they are not the first and won’t be the last) but, while other residents “closer in” were complaining of exactly the same things, these residents didn’t consider that their time would come.
July 30, 2014 at 5:14 PM
well, I spoke up But when this planning was first underway higher density was discussed with the community as dual occupancy There was never any transparency to the ‘vision’ of the administrators which was to sell out so many neighbourhoods and so many residents for the sake of a dollar. We have had not one councillor or administrator ever do anything to assist those of us who now find ourselves in high density areas – we have no choice but to move – I don’t want to live next door to 4 storey flats when the block next to me is sold to developers. I and my family have no future in our neighbourhood now – I have no choice but to move – our neighbourhood already is impacted by multi-storey low quality apartments – the developers get richer, we get nothing but the loss of lifestyle and neighbourhood
July 30, 2014 at 5:49 PM
My commiserations and my total agreement with every word you have written. Residents in 2002/3 certainly did not receive the full picture of what was going to happen. Apathy probably played a part, but overall we were not provided with the necessary information. Then in August 2013 we got absolutely no information and Newton and his councillors didn’t even have the guts to let people know what bastardry they were contemplating. All we eventually got was the same bunch of (MODERATORS: WORD DELETED) that have been coming out of this council for the last 12 years.
July 31, 2014 at 10:48 AM
So, the same bunch of “moderators word deleted” for the last 12 years!!!! Yeah it’s not your fault for not bothering to question or raise issues and now you have to leave.
My sympathies are not with you – you had your blew your chance and have the option of moving on. My sympathies are with those that have recently moved in (last five years) and don’t have the resources to be able to leave. And these sympathies extend to the high density dwellers, finally got a step on the property ladder and now they are faced with 4 storeys going up next to them and suddenly their light bright apt. is now dim and dark.
As for the minimal changers, who are resoundingly silent, just wait and see what the next round of changes will bring.
July 31, 2014 at 5:40 PM
The people that bought in 5 years ago should have done their homework. This has been no secret. Melbourne’s middle suburbs are all having medium density housing inserted near the shops and rail stations. The winners are the people that bought in the late 90’s . Plenty of capital gain.
August 3, 2014 at 3:47 PM
thank you anonymous for being so utterly unconcerned for residents of our neighbourhood and all the neighbourhoods to be sacrificed to developers
July 30, 2014 at 9:30 PM
Today’s Ministerial Media Release –
Training begins on Pakenham’s new $70 million racecourse
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Training facilities at the new Pakenham Racecourse were officially opened today with Premier and Minister for Racing Denis Napthine presenting the club with a new Racecourse License.
Dr Napthine said this was an historic occasion as it was the first thoroughbred racecourse to be awarded a new license in nearly 40 years.
“This is an exciting day for the south eastern region and an exciting day for the Victorian racing industry with the opening of these training facilities representing a significant milestone ahead of the first race at this track in 2015,” Dr Napthine said.
“The state-of-the-art racecourse is a superb venue with training facilities that rival any other racecourse and training centre in Australia. The Pakenham racecourse will certainly be an attractive option for trainers which will bring jobs and economic growth to the region.
“Across outer south east Melbourne and Gippsland, the thoroughbred racing industry already provides an annual benefit of more than $300 million to the economy and supports more than 3,500 full time jobs. I have no doubt that Pakenham’s new track will add to these benefits,” Dr Napthine said.
Pakenham Racing Club Chief Executive Michael Hodge said the 600-acre racecourse development offered unique opportunities for employment along with commercial, retail and residential space.
“Today’s opening of the horse training facilities is a critical milestone for the club and for the trainers and their employees,” Mr Hodge said.
“The club is delighted with the standard of the facilities that have been delivered in the Stage 1 phase of this vital and ongoing racing industry project.”
While attending the celebrations, Dr Napthine also announced that the Coalition Government would provide $198,650 from its Victorian Racing Industry Fund to support two important infrastructure projects at the new course.
“I am also pleased to announce today that the Coalition Government will further support this project by assisting with the purchase of new starting gates and a 62 square-metre big screen,” Dr Napthine said.
“The new LED big screen will be installed on the infield and enhance the raceday experience for all racegoers, while the modern design of the bigger 17-stall starting gates will enhance safety for jockeys, horses and barrier attendants,” Dr Napthine said.
The Coalition Government and the Pakenham Racing Club will each provide $141,650 for the big screen while the Coalition Government and Racing Victoria/Country Racing Victoria (CRV) will each provide $57,000 towards the starting gates.
CRV Chief Executive Scott Whiteman said that Racing Victoria and CRV were delighted with the support the Victorian Government has given the Pakenham Racing Club by helping secure the big screen and the new starting gates.
“As well as the new starting gates being larger than the current Pakenham version, they feature an enhanced design which make them easier to move and safer for the jockeys, horses and barrier attendants,” Mr Whiteman said.
July 30, 2014 at 9:38 PM
whats the bet the trainers at Caulfield will expect compensation before they leave and MRC will want to use the stables for apartments and continue to use the middle for parking.
July 31, 2014 at 12:33 PM
The MRC can do what they like with their own land. But change is coming with regards the Racecourse. The Auditor general’s report will be damming to all associated with the governance of the CRR
July 31, 2014 at 1:07 PM
wonder if they will clean up the mess in the middle if training is removed including removing that horrible artificial track.
July 31, 2014 at 3:28 PM
Wonder why Paul Burke thought commercial zones were relevant when discussing Faulkner St, which is zoned GRZ. Or did the journalist misquote him? While the residents may be unhappy with the loss of amenity, it could be worse—they might have been zoned RGZ.
Over and over again, people are discovering that there is no protection of residential amenity in the areas targetted for higher density development. In the words of our Mayor, “this is what Council is trying to achieve”. This is why multi-unit developments invariably fail to comply with one or more residential amenity standards. There really is a desire by Council, VCAT, and State Government to force people out of their homes so their land can be redeveloped. Belsize Av is another example.
July 31, 2014 at 3:51 PM
Burke’s intent is to camouflage what is really happening I suspect. I’ve got to the stage where any figure that comes out of council should highly suspect. When he claims that 47 percent of new dwellings are going into the commercially zones areas I’m reduced to laughter. This includes the 442 dwellings that will become part of the caulfield village. That is not zoned commercial. Take away these 442 apartments and the percentage claimed for commercial areas falls by almost half. What’s happening is that more and more developmens are going into streets like Faulkner and other quiet local areas and not the commercial zones. That could happen down the track, but it doesn’t change what I see as false reporting.
July 31, 2014 at 5:52 PM
Andrea Kellett writes “Councillors want the developer……….
In fact that should read Council wants the developers…..
I sometimes wonder how we have bred a generation of reporters that don’t really get it. They insist on ensuring emotive expression is used rather than simply reporting the facts. They fail to understand their role.
July 31, 2014 at 6:52 PM
I notice Council [meaning Paul Burke] has issued a Media Release with the provocative title “Provide false or misleading information and you risk going to court”. As it turns out, they didn’t mean it: it only applies to parking fines. A different Media Release that erroneously claims “Height limits over all residentially zoned land” is still on Council’s web site. There is no chance that Council will take itself to court on the grounds it has provided false or misleading information. Therein lies a source of friction between them and me. I know they shouldn’t be trusted and their public pronouncements are unreliable.