COMMUNITY CALLS OF MP RICHARD WYNNE TO SAVE SMITH STREET

This media release was sent out by CAG yesterday. I fully support it

Stephen Jolly





COLLINGWOOD ACTION GROUP

26 CAMBRIDGE ST COLLINGWOOD VIC 3066

www.smithstreet.org/cag



INFORMATION RELEASE

Friday 15 April 2005



COMMUNITY CALLS OF MP RICHARD WYNNE TO SAVE SMITH STREET



The planning controversy that has plagued Smith Street for over a year has

entered a new and dangerous phase for the community. While Yarra Council

finally knocked back Banco’s plans for a multi-storey high-rise tower block on

Smith Street in February, the developer then appealed the decision to VCAT. A

directions hearing is scheduled for 22nd April 2005.



Collingwood Action Group is now urging local MP Richard Wynne to make good his

promise to save the community. Spokesperson Cliodhna Rae said Wynne is on the

public record promising he will ask the Planning Minister to call in the

application.



Wynne has been vocal about opposing Banco’s proposal for Smith Street, referring

to it as an ambit claim. He has argued it is too large and out of scale with

Smith Street’s built form; downgrades heritage; increases traffic; causes

overshadowing and overlooking; and selectively uses Melbourne 2030’s

principles.



Ms Rae warned the community that CAG had received legal advice that we would

lose if this case went to VCAT. The advice pointed to a string of recent VCAT

decisions approving massive high-rise developments just like Banco’s in inner

Melbourne areas.



CAG believes Smith Street is even more vulnerable to over-development because of

Yarra Council’s planning vacuum. Some 2 ½ years after Melbourne 2030’s

implementation, Yarra had done nothing to develop a Smith Street Structure

Plan. Its efforts to rush the process were roundly condemned at a recent public

meeting. The community rejected Yarra’s draft Smith Street Urban Design

Framework and the process as ‘severely flawed’, demanding a fresh start with a

community driven Steering Committee. This week Yarra endorsed the Committee and

it meets soon. Members include CAG, community groups, National Trust, traders

and Councillors.



The only thing preventing Banco’s development from going ahead is the Planning

Minister Rob Hulls intervening and making a decision, based on a

community-endorsed Interim Structure Plan for Smith Street. Ms Rae stated, ‘For

this we need Richard Wynne’s help to put pressure on the Planning Minister’. CAG

urged the community to lobby Richard Wynne and the Minister for Planning before

it is too late. ‘People should start phoning, writing letters and emailing our

politicians demanding they protect the community from rampant over

development’.



FOR MEDIA COMMENT

Collingwood Action Group, Cliodhna Rae

Yarra Councillors, Steve Jolly

State Member for Richmond, Richard Wynne