Ian Wight and Judy Smart attended Yarra Council’s meeting Tuesday 25 February, where Amendment C231—Queens Parade was considered. The final form of the amendment considerably reduced the maximum height of developments behind Queens Parade shop fronts and increased the minimum setback. A significant victory.

We have been less successful with other shopping strips. On 5 August, Ian Wight represented the RHSV at the Planning Panel considering the proposed amendment for the future development of Swan Street, Richmond. As with Queens Parade, North Fitzroy, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) was pressing for development rules that would leave only the façades of heritage buildings and a few metres of original fabric.

Ian gave a masterly analysis and the panel members asked a number of pertinent questions, which gave us hope that some of the more egregious aspects of the proposed amendment would be revised but sadly this was not the case. However, the panel report handed down in October agreed with the Council that the general recommended upper level setback be increased from 5 to 6 metres and we like to think that our submissions assisted in this decision. Nevertheless this was a disappointing outcome that is unlikely to prevent façadism.

READ MORE:

29 May 2019     Submission to Heritage Council of Victoria regarding planned amendments to the City of Yarra to design and development overlays covering historic strip of shopping centre

4 Dec 2018.     RHSV logged objections to planning amendments which threaten the heritage fabric of North Fitzroy Queens Parade shopping strip

4 Dec 2020.      RHSV logged a submission to the Yarra Planning Amendment C269 rewrite of local policies

We were approached by the Buninyong and District Historical Society, which objected to a grotesque proposal to build tourist accommodation in the form of giant wine barrels on the slopes of this picturesque extinct volcano near Ballarat, a site significant to Indigenous and settler populations alike and listed on the now closed Register of the National Estate. Ballarat Council rejected the application unanimously. The developer has gone to VCAT and we have submitted a statement of grounds in the case. Unfortunately, the developer has commenced construction of the first unit, which cannot be challenged as one dwelling can be erected without a permit provided it conforms to the code.

North Park Subdivision & Redevelopment

In September 2020 the RHSV lodged a submission to support the Essendon Historical Society and the ‘Save North Park’ community group, opposing plans for subdivision and development of the grounds of the former North Park, Essendon. The application was refused by Heritage Victoria and then the Moonee Valley Council also unanimously refused the planning application.

Appeals against these decisions were lodged by the owner and RHSV submitted a Statement of Grounds with VCAT. Both appeals were withdrawn by the applicant and RHSV expects revised plans and new applications in the near future.

North Park, Essendon, is a a high Victorian mansion still surrounded by its intact gardens. Both the mansion and the gardens are on the Victorian Heritage Register. “The grounds of North Park are of aesthetic importance as an outstanding example of the gardenesque style and for the unusual three curved terraces, wide drive, garden path remains, and the evergreen trees and large conifers which contribute to the picturesque profile of the overall composition.” 

North Park is now owned by the St Columban order. They proposed to construct 25 townhouses on the grounds. Local community opposition developed quickly, supported by the Essendon Historical Society. Heritage Victoria refused a permit and Moonee Valley Council also refused a town planning permit. The St Columban’s appealed to the Heritage Council and to VCAT. The RHSV made major submissions to both bodies, supporting the EHS and the local community. Both appeals have now been withdrawn.

This is a battle won, but the war will no doubt continue. We will keep alert for the next battle.

Elisabeth Jackson, RHSV vice president and Heritage Committee member, has been involved in opposing a development site on the corner of Sydney Road and Park Street, Brunswick. Elisabeth reported, ‘Heritage concerns were only one aspect of the objections to this proposal which involved a huge tower overshadowing Princes Park and building on a very contaminated site. The main heritage concern related to the proposed removal of a 1920s electrical substation. This had been built and operated by the former Brunswick Electricity Supply—an organisation of great significance to Brunswick. Moreland Council has been excellent on this issue—rejecting both the original plans and a revised set’. The developer took the council to VCAT, which confirmed the council’s position. We thus obtained a favourable outcome.

JUUKAN GORGE, WA

22 July 2020

RHSV’s Submission to the Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

Click above to read our submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the destruction of the 46,000-year-old caves at the Juukan Gorge. We argue that it demonstrates profound failings in the legislation to protect Australia’s heritage, not only in WA, but also in the Commonwealth, which was missing in action.

Commonwealth Environment Minister Sussan Ley justified doing nothing on the grounds that there was no application for protection, but it emerges today that when the traditional owners of the Shenhua Watermark site on the Liverpool Plains did apply for protections, the Minister refused to grant protection, allowing an open-cut coalmine to proceed. This highlights the need for ‘an independent compliance and enforcement regulator’, as called for by the Review into the EBPC Act.