Melbourne Tower Decision Due After Seven-Year Wait

A seven-year wait by a Melbourne-based developer for permission to build a 24-storey residential and commercial tower along the Yarra River is about to come to an end—one way or the other.

The proposal for 135 serviced apartments, another 115 residential apartments, ground-floor retail and basement carparking has gone back to Victorian planning minister Lizzie Blandthorn for a final decision.

The minister will consider a report by the Fishermans Bend Standing Advisory Committee on the application that at 24 storeys is four levels higher than allowed.

Fishermans Bend is Australia’s biggest urban renewal project and considered key to Melbourne’s growth. Town planners forecast it could see an additional 80,000 residents by 2050.

The development application by privately held Manors Gate Group first went to the planning minister in June of 2015, bypassing Port Phillip Council because of the height of the project and the number of apartments proposed.

However, Port Phillip Council mayor Marcus Pearl said this week their planning committee had seen the proposal and advised the minister it did not support the tower setbacks, and queried if the design justified the then 40-level height.

In October 2018, new planning controls were introduced for Fishermans Bend to help guide development in the rapidly growing area, which included reducing the height limit for the site and surrounds from 40 levels to 20 levels. It was one of a suite of temporary and permanent planning controls by the Victorian government to better control development.

▲ A five-storey podium will house four retail tenancies and 135 serviced apartments.

Pearl said Manors Gate Group had sought a planning scheme amendment for the 1530sq-m lot on Normanby Road, South Melbourne, for a 27, 30 and 34-storey tower. That was further amended to reduce the height to 26, 29 and 32 storeys.

The council’s planning committee again advised the minister it was not in favour of the development.

“The proposed height and reduced setbacks of the tower and non-compliances or minimum compliance with several design matters are considered to be signs the proposal would be an overdevelopment for the site,” Pearl said.

“It is considered that the extent of change needed to make the proposal acceptable goes beyond what could be achieved by conditions,” he said.

The latest amendment wants site-specific planning controls to allow the tower to go to 24 storeys.

The building has been designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects and includes a five-storey podium that would house four retail tenancies and a lobby on the ground floor, plus 135 serviced apartments. The developers say those apartments will work like a motel, with guest leases for short-term or medium-term stays.

▲ Town planners forecast Fisermans Bend could see an additional 80,000 residents by 2050.

Levels six to 24 will include 115 one, two, three and four-bedroom dwellings. Six per cent of those, or seven apartments, will be classed as affordable housing, with long-term rent reductions. Stackable, basement level parking will cater for 66 cars.

The amendment application says “the proposal provides an outcome that will positively contribute to the vibrant mixed-use precinct envisioned for the area, and provide much needed larger family friendly apartments to the area”.

Manors Gate says on its website they have an extensive landbank of prime sites and a development portfolio mainly covering Victoria.

It describes the Fishermans Bend proposal as “in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most sought after and emerging suburbs. These apartments are laid out in a landmark tower with enviable views around South Melbourne”.

Port Phillip Council confirmed a report by the Fishermans Bend Standing Advisory Committee was before the minister for planning.

Pearl said planning officers had recommended if the proposal was to be supported, the council’s concerns about building height, tower setbacks, carparking, sustainable and water sensitive urban design, and wind impacts needed to be considered.

“It is considered the maximum height of the building should not exceed 20 storeys,” Pearl said.

In March this year, a 50-storey, mixed-use tower straddling two adjoining municipalities—the City of Melbourne and the City of Port Melbourne—was given the green light.