By Benjamin Millar
A 28-storey building will tower above the Maribyrnong River after being given the green light by Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
Four buildings ranging from
16 storeys to 28 storeys will include 751 apartments, along with ground-floor retail outlets.
The $200 million riverside development is twice the 14-storey limit preferred by Maribyrnong council and three levels higher than the 25-storey plan provided to the council for feedback in 2012.
The website of developer Giancorp Property Group still lists the 9209-square-metre project as up to 25 levels.
The planning minister has the final say on all projects in the Joseph Road Precinct, which was rezoned for high-density development in 2009.
Mr Guy announced the approval on Tuesday, saying such “central city apartments” are vital for housing a growing population.
“With Victoria growing at a record rate, including record numbers of babies being born, it is important we cater for all kinds of housing growth,” he said.
Maribyrnong mayor Grant Miles is scathing of the approval, arguing the project at 2 Hopkins Street is an overdevelopment that will overshadow the river and nearby green open space. “It goes against everything the minister has said about protecting the river,”
Cr Miles said.
Last September, Mr Guy announced planning controls along the Yarra River and said the Maribyrnong River would benefit from site-specific height and setback controls.
“The Maribyrnong River is the greatest natural asset of Melbourne’s western suburbs,” Mr Guy said at the time. “The mandatory height and setback
controls will ensure that the river will be well protected from overdevelopment.”
Cr Miles said the approval of a 28-storey tower that would overshadow the river showed there was clearly greater value placed on protecting the Yarra River for communities in the east than looking after the Maribyrnong for the west.
Maribyrnong council last year put a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria conference calling for a review of planning controls to minimise the impact of overshadowing by developments in sensitive areas such as school playgrounds, public parks and river frontages.
The development follows approval of neighbouring projects including a 25-storey Moreland Street tower and a $318 million Hopkins
Road development featuring twin 32-storey towers and nearly 1000 apartments.
