By Matthew Sims
Footscray resident Sophie Vassallo has launched a campaign to oppose Moon Dog Craft Brewery’s proposal to transform Franco Cozzo’s iconic Footscray store into a three-storey brewery and bar, citing concerns around parking and noise impacts.
Maribyrnong council released a planning application last week, which included a DJ booth, rooftop bar and a fountain.
Living 200 metres from the site, Ms Vassallo said she launched the campaign on Monday, December 5.
“It’s really in its infancy,” she said.
“My problem is that the disadvantages or negative impacts of the brewery aren’t outweighed by any benefits.”
The proposal has outlined that the brewery and bar will be trading from 11am to 1am for seven days a week, with no more than 900 patrons permitted on site and no more than 850 patrons after midnight.
Ms Vassallo said one of her major concerns with the proposal was that it sought to have car parking requirements waived.
“The proposal has issues of noise and disturbances at night,” she said.
Ms Vassallo said while a number of patrons would likely be commuting to the nearby Footscray train station, she was concerned there was no planning for a designated pick-up or drop-off spot for those using Uber or other ride sharing services.
“Hopkins Street is already congested,” she said.
Ms Vassallo said the site would be better suited to house services which were lacking within Footscray.
“If this was going to bring some benefits in terms of services and infrastructure, then I would be able to cop the impacts,” she said.
“If it was a childcare centre or a doctor’s clinic, I’d be willing to support it.
“We should be speaking up about the things that we deserve.”
Ms Vassallo said she had created a Facebook page in support of the campaign and she was aiming to invite all Maribyrnong councillors to a community meeting at Fordham Reserve on Sunday, December 18 from 10.30am.
BikeWest president John Symons said they were in support of the Moon Dog’s proposal, citing its inclusion of 20 on-site bicycle spaces for employees and visitors as favourable for bike users.
“We think it’s a good idea to have more people riding bikes and using public transport,” he said.
“It would be a fantastic third place.”
Mr Symons said the group were also advocating to introduce cycling infrastructure connecting Dynon Road with Footscray via Hopkins Street.
“We think it’s simply a matter of priorities,” he said.
“We think that is possible without impacting car traffic if it is designed well.”
A cult figure, Mr Cozzo arrived in Melbourne from Italy in 1956 as a 21-year-old.
He became famous for sales pitches such as “Grand sale! Grand sale! Grand sale!” and the catchphrase “megalo, megalo, megalo”, a Greek word meaning, large, great or grand.
Founded in 2010 in Melbourne by Josh and Jake Uljans and Karl van Buuren, Moon Dog began with a brewery in Abbotsford and have since expanded operations into Preston.
Mr van Buuren said the positive response from the Footscray community so far had been “quite heartening”.
“We’ve been very overwhelmed with the positive response,” he said.
“We are looking forward to working with the council and local residents to address any concerns or issues.
“We’re committed to being a positive addition to Footscray.”
Maribyrnong council will not make a decision on the application before Wednesday, December 21.
Details: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Advertised-Planning-Applications/54-58-Hopkins-Street-Footscray or www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088462602196
