Jennifer Pittorino
Maribyrnong council has approved the construction of a 10-storey mixed use building in the Highpoint Major Activity Centre.
In granting the permit, council lopped four storeys off the planned building at 191 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong, which the developer had wanted to be 14 storeys high.
The building will be mix of apartments and office space.
Mayor Sarah Carter said council welcomed new apartments in Maribrynong but 10-storeys, not 14, was appropriate for the site.
“That’s what I would like to see on the site, it’s what our community is owed,” she said.
“I reference an example site of the West Road development which is an over development down there, there is too much density and too much height.
“I’m all for providing the apartments, we want to see the growth so people aren’t pushed out further and don’t have the amenity but we want medium density.”
Cr Carter said better transport options are required to match increased density.
“We need to see better transport connections in that part of the city, the transport is woefully inadequate , what we’re getting is the density without the amenity.”
Councillor Michael Clarke agreed that increasing housing density without better public transport is not an option.
“Density without amenity is an enormous problem for us, it is highly problematic, we need to attend to the livability of our community, we need to maintain the balance,“ he said.
Councillor Jorge Jorquera said he supported the original 14 storey plan.
“There is a large chunk of the community having to leave the area due to the housing prices in the area,” he said.
“We heard that there are thousands of people on the social and public housing waiting list whose nominated area to live is here.
“There are those people who want to live here and can’t, on top of those being pushed out, for those reasons I am willing to accept the height.”
The developer has lodged an application with VCAT because council did not grant a permit within the prescribed time.
