A six-story apartment complex has been given the go-ahead on a former industrial site at Yarraville.
Maribyrnong council has approved the $30 million, 120-unit redevelopment of the former McCalls Tannery site at 125 Francis Street, more than two years after a state government planning panel approved rezoning of the site.
The project includes five studios, 45 one-bedroom units, 69 two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit, with 144 car parking spaces.
The proposal attracted a number of objections over its scale and impact on traffic and residents’ safety on the truck-plagued road, but received unanimous councillor support at the recent city development special committee.
Cr Michael Clarke said the development was an excellent use of a moribund piece of land.
“For years it has been an absolute eyesore at the southern end of our city,” he said.
“The issue here, more than anything else, is that, yes, it’s six stories but, importantly, it is supported as a development because it is in an area where this kind of development can and will take place.”
Cr Clarke said the “pleasing set of dwellings” would help meet current and future needs of the city.
Cr Catherine Cumming said it was fantastic that an old disused site would be turned into a residential development.
Cr Grant Miles praised the development for its “stunning” design but criticised the inclusion of only one three-bedroom apartment. “I would love to have seen more three-bedroom apartments,” he said. “We have families looking for three-bedroom apartments in Maribyrnong … more than one would be nice.”
Terrain Consulting Group planning consultant Lorenzo Rigoni said the developers were looking forward to getting the project under way.
“The gestation has been long; we started this process in 2012 and we have had very many positive discussions with the council.”
