The City of Melbourne council has voted unanimously to support MAB Corp’s latest residential tower in the Docklands’ NewQuay project.
The council on Tuesday evening voted to support the application for the 36-storey tower in Lot B at 473-505 Docklands Drive at its Future Melbourne meeting.
The state planning minister will now pick up the approval process.
The tower is part of NewQuay West Development Plan endorsed by the minister in 2018.
Development Victoria owns the site. The project has an estimated cost of $160 million.
The approval is contingent on MAB Corp abiding by planning officers' recommended conditions including the removal of vertical louvres on part of the podium and some amendments to planned layouts for the apartments.
The council will eventually take ownership of several parts of the planned public space such as Linear Park.
“This is the last waterfront block to be developed in the NewQuay Development Precinct,” deputy lord mayor Nicholas Reece said.
“Over the last 20-plus years we have seen what was an old industrial area transformed into a trendy residential and retail complex.”
Edge Group’s application via subsidiary company Bay Road Hotel Pty Ltd was for a hotel and gaming premises on the corner of Lonsdale and Hardware streets was also approved.
The Insite Architects-designed application received 21 objections from the community.
The plans for the 723.4sq m site will cost $5.4 million and involve the basement, ground floor and rooftop levels only, with 147 short-stay apartments already in place on the other 19 levels.
Edge Group’s application was for a change of use to allow a gaming room with 50 gaming machines on the ground floor plus bars, bistros and cafe options on all three floors, and a license to sell liquor.
Edge Group had made a seperate application to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission in December, 2021 which the City of Melbourne council had objected to. The VGCCC approved the application in January this year with the company required to contribute $75,000 per year to community and sports organisations as chosen by representatives of both council and the venue.
The council also approved the permit for considerations of the built form for a hotel and gaming premises on Lonsdale Street but some councillors voiced disapproval about the planning system allowing applications for venues with gaming machines to go through, and the applicant for not considering other potential uses.
“We do welcome the investment that is being made here in a new bar or club venue in the city with the city recovering from Covid and bringing back the buzz,” deputy lord mayor Nicholas Reece said.
"When the application was made to the VGCCC, the council opposed it and was unsuccessful and I want to put it on the public record that more electronic gaming machines in Melbourne is something that I do not support.”
Councillors voted to urge the minister to immediately approve an amendment made in August, 2019 which sets out recommended changes to better regulate how and where gaming venues are allowed within the city and to minimise harm.
