The ongoing Edgewater Club saga has taken another turn, with Maribyrnong council rejecting new plans for a dozen dwellings to be built above the club.
The proposal for 12 three-bedroom split-level dwellings, taking the building to five storeys, was knocked backed at last Tuesday night’s council meeting after attracting 40 objections.
The council has staged a lengthy and expensive legal fight against the original Western Bulldogs development after refusing to approve a planning permit.
But despite opposition from more than 2500 residents to the $25 million licensed club, a 2010 VCAT ruling gave the nod to the project and the relocation of 70 poker machines to the site.
The decision approved construction of a four-storey building and licensed club that includes a bistro, sports bar, gaming lounge, café, function space and 50 hotel rooms.
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The plans were amended in 2014 to cut the number of hotel rooms to 38.
The Western Bulldogs argue the venue will increase local employment while providing much-needed accommodation, meeting, convention and entertainment facilities.
Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach said concerns remained about overdevelopment of the site.
“There are also concerns in terms of social planning and the potential detriment of having residential [dwellings] on top of a gaming venue.”
Cr Quach said the latest proposal was “opportunistic” given construction of the club was already under way.
Meanwhile, the council has given the green light to a revised proposal for a five-storey, 60-unit development next door to Footscray’s Reverence Hotel music venue.
A proposal for 12-18 Napier Street was rejected by the council last year for being too large, lacking a suitable housing mix and falling short on parking.
The developers took the new proposal to VCAT following council’s knockback, reaching agreement with objectors on a range of issues, including noise and building setbacks during a January 15 mediation.
Cr Quach said the developer and objectors had worked well on reaching a compromise.
“The issues we raised earlier have been addressed with more of a mix and respect for the current neighbours in the area, including the Reverence Hotel,” he said.
