A new Footscray food and arts venue has been given the green light despite concerns from neighbours about the likely noise impact.
Lickety Split, a multi-use venue proposed for a disused Moreland Street warehouse by the operators of the adjoining Back Alley Sally’s bar, was approved with a range of conditions at last week’s Maribyrnong council planning meeting.
The proposal for 38-40 Moreland Street includes a cafe and beer garden, shared workspace, communal hub for artists and small business, a tattoo artist, salon or barbershop and a bocce court.
The food and drink premises will include areas within the warehouse as well as a coffee operation and food van in the outdoor area.
Plans for a microbrewery to be included on the site were rejected due to zoning issues.
Councillors last month deferred a decision on the proposal until an acoustic report was submitted.
The acoustic report by Noise Consulting recommended a number of measures to lessen noise impacts to the surrounding area.
The application attracted 16 objections, relating to noise, patron behaviour, insufficient parking, inappropriate trading hours and waste management.
Following a planning forum held in February, the applicant revised the proposal to remove live music, reduce patron numbers to 110 and cut back operating hours.
The officer’s report noted the site is located within “the most regionally significant activity centre of Melbourne’s west”.
“The proposal strongly aligns with the strategy of encouraging new cultural and arts facilities to locate in the centre. The use also strengthens the evening economy of Footscray MAC [Metropolitan Activity Centre].”
The nod for the project follows approval for Footscray’s first rooftop bar at Back Alley Sally’s, the former T-shirt factory that has been operating as a bar in Yewers Street since the start of last year.
