‘Too big’ for Spotswood

Plans have been lodged for a 58-dwelling, four storey residential development at 571-589 Melbourne Road, Spotswood. Image: Supplied 210459_01

Goya Dmytryshchak

Plans have been lodged with Hobsons Bay council for a 58-dwelling, four storey residential development, proposed as the first stage of a new housing precinct dubbed Spotswood Yards.

Vega One is proposing 47 apartments and 11 two-storey townhouses on a 4.7 hectare parcel of the land at 571-589 Melbourne Road.

Eighty four car spaces are provided over two basement levels, and 13 on-street visitor spots on a new internal road, plus four car share spots.

There would also be 78 basement bike spaces and 12 ground-level spots.

Spotswood’s Karin Reid said she and other residents would object to the proposal as it was an overdevelopment of the site.

“I don’t disapprove of development,“ she said.

“I’m opposed to the multi-level, high-density living. I think little Spotswood can’t handle it – it’s too big a footprint for us.

“And the traffic, with two primary schools nearby.

“As we know, Williamstown Road or Melbourne Road – it’s already busy as hell in the mornings and at nights.“

The site is the former Spotswood Railway Workshops complex, with the Ways and Workshops building the sole remaining building. VicTrack sold the land in 2018 as it was deemed surplus to transport needs.

The developer’s master plan for the site divides the triangular block into five precincts, with the current proposed development known as Precinct 1.

Precincts 2-5 will be the subject of separate future planning permit applications.

Precinct 2 proposes a 93-dwelling development.