We are a small group of Yarra River users : walkers, cyclists and rowers, and we are absolutely appalled by a proposed new apartment development by Salta on the Yarra Riverbank in Abbotsford. The developer is submitting in the busy period before Christmas, and before more onerous planning controls apply in 2016.
The proposed development at 647 -649 Victoria Street, for a 14 level building with 109 apartments, is the closest development to the river ever submitted. It is 26.5 meters from the river. The river itself is only 26 meters wide at this point.
The cycle/pedestrian path is right beside the enormous building, and on the plans the proposal lowers the PUBLIC path to accommodate the development. If it is approved, the path is likely to be closed for as long as the development takes to build. If built, recreational users will have vastly lessened amenity and access to green space and open space. A canyon like effect will be created which will completely overwhelm and destroy the pleasant and tranquil surroundings.
The plans show access tunnels which will occupy most of Walmer Street (beside the development). Again, this street is also PUBLIC LAND.
The plans also show a jetty, again on the PUBLIC riverbank in an area which is one of the only remaining areas with the correct combination of direct sunlight and rocks to provide a basking spot for water dragons and eastern snake-necked turtles.
This developer has a history of achieving planning approval through Ministerial interventions. So, although it seems absolutely unbelievable that a development with such an enormous impact on the river environment, public green space and amenity, and which subsumes PUBLIC land into the development, could be approved, we need to object loudly and immediately to the destruction of a public asset.
Please support us in trying to protect the riverbank for all users by objecting to City of Yarra, quoting ref no PLN15/0643 before 18th December.
An objection form can be downloaded, and there is a link to a Change.org petition at http://www.defendtheyarrariver.wordpress.com The site contains more information, and pictures of the proposed development and site.
Please share the links and ask others to support and share. Once the green space on our riverbank is gone, it will be gone forever.
Thank you,
Members of DefendTheYarraRiver
Comments
anon (not verified)
Fri, 2015-12-04 16:48
Permalink
Amcor paper mills to be a new suburb
That's not the only "development" that is along the Yarra! While they won't be megalomaniac towers, like a massive cascade of levels, this one is typical of the downfall of Melbourne's non-productive economy! A mini suburb approved for Alphington paper mill site.
New mini suburb approved for Alphington paper mill site (3/12/15) | the Age
The creation of a new mini suburb comprising 2500 homes to built on the old Amcor paper mill site in Alphington has been ticked off by an inner city council.
Yarra Council passed a resolution on Wednesday night giving the green light to a revised development plan for the 16-hectare site which would house up to 5000 residents.
It was the former Amcor paper mills, with a huge plant close to Chandler bridge and the Yarra river. The Alphington Paper Mill development, situated on the 16.5 hectare former Amcor paper mill site, is centrally located, 6.5 kilometres northeast of the Melbourne CBD.
The population of Alphington will surge, and overload the already limited schools and add to unemployment. Victoria's economy in the past relied on high levels of manufacturing and productivity, but now it's housing and finance lending.
One Yarra councillor for the area, Stephen Jolly, said the plan would mean too many homes built on the site. "It's sardine central," Cr Jolly said. "They are squeezing the equivalent of the entire population of Alphington into [this site]. And it has no primary school."
And he said the development would be too close to the Yarra River banks – 30 metres in some cases. This is the new standard of living, in little boxes straddling what used to be a place of jobs, industry and productivity.
Add comment