City of Port Phillip Approves St Kilda Triangle Development Plan
This follows extensive discussions between the council and the developer which resulted in a reduction in retail space and an increase in open space in the proposed St Kilda bayside development.
The final decision was made around 10pm tonight after the council considered the findings of two additional reports (Economic Impact and Views) commissioned as the result of community consultation.
Councillors accepted the council planner’s advice that the development plan (as amended) meets all planning requirements.
Key changes to the amended development plan as a result of negotiations between the council, the developer and community groups as recently as today include:
* A cap on the area of shops to a maximum of 19,000 square metres.
* An increase in the area of open space to a minimum of 18,000 square metres.
* The effect of these two changes is a reduction in retail and an increase in open space.
Other key changes include the intention to relocate some building area from the Esplanade to the rear of the Palais into the Nolan building in order to achieve a further improvement in views; a reduction in music venue patrons; and inclusion of a new cultural facility of national significance.
Port Phillip mayor Cr Janet Cribbes appealed to residents and the wider Melbourne community to take another look at the project and question what they have heard.
“It offers something for everyone in a dynamic, exciting location,” she said.
Cr Cribbes said the triangle project is St Kilda’s missing link between Acland and Fitzroy Streets. “This project will provide a much needed link between our two most famous streets and the foreshore. Locals and visitors to St Kilda will be able to stroll from the top of Fitzroy Street, through the bayside vistas of the triangle, all the way to Acland Street,” she said.
Cr Cribbes said the the council has additional plans to integrate the triangle and foreshore.
In response to claims that the development would result in a loss of views from the Upper Esplanade, Cr Cribbes urged those who still held concerns to look again at the designs.
“This is not a high rise development. If you look again, you will see that despite a campaign of misinformation, nothing is higher than the Palais. The design cleverly creates more places for the public to enjoy bay views and located next to Luna Park, it’s the ideal spot for an entertainment precinct, the traditional use for this land for over 100 years,” she said.
Cr Cribbes said as well as a refurbished Palais Theatre, four new venues on the site will add a dynamic focus for entertainment. ‘”They will offer local and visiting musicians more quality places to play and be heard. They will also offer locals more places to go locally,” she said.
Cr Cribbes said that, as a local, she welcomed the opportunity to once again shop in St Kilda, but added that there was a lot more to the triangle than just shopping. “There is entertainment, interesting walkways, public open spaces with great views, art gallery, cinemas, hospitality TAFE, bowling alley and winter ice rink. Shops are only 16.5% of the site. There many ways of looking at the triangle and if you look again you will see how
the plans approved tonight reflect the many faces of St Kilda,” she said.
