A BID to build 18 apartments and seven shops on the historic Newport Masonic Temple site has been knocked back by Hobsons Bay Council.
A special planning committee of the council unanimously rejected an application to demolish all but the facade of the building at 405 Melbourne Road, and it refused plans for a four-storey apartment block with retail on the ground floor and basement car parking.
The decision defied the recommendation of the council’s planning department, which said the building was not structurally sound and rectification works would “compromise the historical fabric of the building”.
In 2006, the council applied heritage controls to both the interior and exterior of the temple, which was built in 1924-25.
A council panel noted that Hobsons Bay’s heritage adviser had “some very strong objections” to the building’s demolition and felt that retaining the facade would be “simply tokenism”.
Architect Bruce Trethowan acknowledged the building’s architectural and social significance, but said it was also riddled with “concrete cancer” and had been steadily deteriorating.
“Most of the building is uninhabitable, particularly the first floor and the whole of the rear section.
“In tandem with that, the building has significant importance in the Newport area particularly.”
Mr Trethowan said the most rational approach would be to preserve the most distinctive part of the building – the facade – and redevelop the rest.
Newport Traders Association president David Skop said he felt it was an overdevelopment and should be scaled back to about five shops and eight apartments.
Seventeen car spaces are required for the seven proposed retail outlets, but each shop has been allocated only one space.
The council decided that 18 apartments and seven shops was an overdevelopment of the site.
Rejecting the plan, Williamstown North ward councillor Peter Hemphill said heritage and parking issues were of paramount importance.
