This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Melbourne City Council has thrown its weight behind the Southbank Structure Plan following a two month community consultation process.
There more than 80 written submissions and will form the vision for Southbank’s rejuvenation and development over the next 30 years.
Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee Chair, Cr Peter Clarke said the Southbank Structure Plan would accommodate the precinct’s growth through good urban planning and design.
“Residents, workers and visitors told us that they wanted more active and attractive main streets through Southbank and more open space; they asked for stronger compliance on building height controls and better provision for walking, cycling and community infrastructure,” Cr Clarke said.
“We’ve listened to the community and our plan proposes improvements that can be implemented to ensure that Southbank meets its growing needs in a sustainable way,” he added.
A proposed planning scheme amendment, Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendment C171, will implement land use and built form actions from the structure plan.
It aims to ensure that new high-rise developments will shape good quality streetscapes by setting limits on building heights, podium heights and distance between towers.
In response to a growing trend for building applications to exceed height limits, Councillors this week proposed that discretion to allow increased height above the preferred maximum be limited to an additional 20% and only if a demonstrable community benefit could be derived.
“As we receive more and more planning applications for excessively tall buildings, we need to consider the impact that these will have on the city.
“We need to find comfortable densities for our city that reinforce Southbank’s character and support a good living and working environment. Our proposal is to consider additional heights – up to 20% over set limits – in the situations where community benefit can be demonstrated,” Cr Clarke said.
In addition, the amendment proposes to extend capital city and mixed use zones through Southbank, including restrictions on the development of new car parks.
The City of Melbourne will now ask the Victoria Planning Minister Justin Madden to approve Amendment C171 for public exhibition. Once approved, members of the public will have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed changes.
Australian Property Journal
