Hobsons Bay council yesterday rejected an application for an eight-storey, 56-dwelling apartment block in Spotswood, which had received 176 objections from surrounding residents.
Planning & Property Partners (PPP), acting for Omni Property Group, had applied to build what would be Spotswood’s highest residential building, at 637 Melbourne Road.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said the proposed design was “simply not appropriate” for its location, opposite the Shell service station on a corner site near the West Gate Freeway.
“We must plan our urban environment in line with community values and this proposal simply doesn’t fit,” she said.
“We welcome growth and development, but not at the expense of our community.”
Strand ward councillor Paul Morgan said the apartment complex’s location presented “too many pitfalls, too little benefit”.
“Growth must be measured against a respect for the neighbourhood’s character and the needs of our community,” he said. “The eight-storey development would provide an unsightly counter to the single- and double-storey residences in the area.”
In 2012, a population and household forecast of Hobsons Bay by .id, the population experts, predicted 637 Melbourne Road would have 74 dwellings by 2017.
PPP director Paul Little said he could not comment without direction from his client.
In an earlier statement, Mr Little said the development had “been carefully considered with input from a range of specialist consultants and government agencies”.
“The site has been identified as a ‘strategic redevelopment site’ under relevant state planning policy and can accommodate an increase in residential density without unreasonably impacting on the locality,” he said.
“The sophisticated design of the building has been developed by leading architects Elenberg Fraser, and the building will make a significant contribution to the urban character and built form of the area.”
Spottiswoode Hotel manager Dani Cillessen said development could be good for the suburb but she was “not exactly a fan” of the eight-storey plans.
“A lot of them are popping up now,” she said.
“I understand about the idea of getting more people in to the suburbs, but I do think it takes away from what we’ve already got here in this area.
“I think Spotswood’s definitely up and coming so in that sense it’s a good thing. I think we’re starting to become a lot more like the likes of Yarraville – what’s happened with Yarraville, what’s happened with Newport – so I guess it can be a good thing if we’re an up-and-coming suburb.”
The developer has 60 days to appeal the council’s refusal at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
