Apartments, Australian Government, Chinese, High Density developments, Vic State Government 5 comments

DONCASTER HILL–CITY OF GHOST APARTMENTS?

By on December 14th, 2015

Vacant new dwellings won’t help to boost the country’s available housing stock. Reliable studies indicate that the number of empty houses and apartments is much higher than the previous estimates, with at least twenty percent of all investor-owned properties not being occupied.

Doncaster Road High Rise 273 Apartments Click to enlarge

Doncaster Road High Rise
273 Apartments
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The Pinnacle Donncaster 160 Apartments Click to enlarge

The Pinnacle Donncaster
160 Apartments
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Doncaster Hill high rise apartments are now being sold off the plan through overseas agents mainly to Chinese citizens who regard Australia as a safe place to put their money. This has been called  “Land Banking” or “Bricks and Mortar banking” which has contributed to so many of Melbourne’s  apartments remaining empty after getting assurances of a high capital gain because of the strong Australian economy so they didn’t need the problems associated with renting them out. But locals are shying away from apartments particularly Continue reading DONCASTER HILL–CITY OF GHOST APARTMENTS? →

Apartments, High Density developments, Manningham Council, Traffic & Parking 10 comments

COUNCIL FLIP FLOP ON DONCASTER HILL PARKING

By on December 4th, 2015

The current problems on Doncaster Hill can be traced back to years of indecision, flawed assumptions and bureaucratic bungling in the early planning of the activity centre that has contributed to the gross under supply of off street car parking we are experiencing today.

One of Three Parking Stations Glen Waverley Click to enlarge

Glen Waverley Multi Deck 
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Doncaster Hill Parking Click to enlarge

Doncaster Hill Parking Overflow
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A study conducted in 2002, found there was a need for six satellite parking stations across Doncaster Hill, each with an average capacity of approximately 850 car bays. This was based on the the assumption that all parking, including resident and staff parking could be catered for without car parking being provided in individual developments. It was thought that new apartments could be sold without the provision of on-site parking! In a report supporting parking stations “On-street parking, by virtue of  Continue reading COUNCIL FLIP FLOP ON DONCASTER HILL PARKING →

High Density DD08 Zoning, Manningham Council, VCAT 8 comments

TWO STOREYS BUT HEIGHT LIMIT ALLOWS THREE

By on November 29th, 2015

“I would have thought that if the situation is to be cut and dried in terms of limiting the height of buildings to no more than two-storeys, then the DDO provisions should be drafted to reflect this. Indeed, there are examples of such controls in other planning schemes”. Comment from VCAT rejection of a council decision.
Three Storey Apartments Click to enlarge

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Three Storey min Height Click to enlarge

Three Storey min Height
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Manningham council’s DDO8 and Municipal Strategic Statement prescribes a maximum height of up to 10 metres where developments are limited to two storeys a height that can also accommodate a three storey of contemporary design. The minimum height needed for a two storey contemporary building is 6.5 metres and the minimum requirement for a three storey of similar design could be contained in less than 9.5 metres.

In requesting the C96 amendment in 2012 council had admitted ….”The current controls do not provide sufficient guidance Continue reading TWO STOREYS BUT HEIGHT LIMIT ALLOWS THREE →

Climate Change, Federal Government, Manningham Council, Vic State Government 16 comments

PUBLIC COOLING ON ANTHROPOGENIC WARMING

By on November 21st, 2015

The latest comprehensive research conducted by the CSIRO indicates that most people believe global warming is actually happening but only 45.9% thought it was  human induced. The study also found there was an increase in the percentage of people that didn’t know or thought global warming wasn’t happening. Not the sort of data you would want released on the eve of the December climate change conference in Paris where Australia could be asked to contribute billions to the Green Climate Fund which is expected to collect $100 billion a year by 2020.

CSIRO shows decline in opinion that global warming is man made believe made GW Click to Enlarge

CSIRO opinion decline  in man induced global warming                           Click to Enlarge

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The study results are compelling when you consider that it comes from CSIRO, the very pioneers of the climate science in Australia. The goal of this fund is to subsidize green energy and pay for other climate adaptation and mitigation programs in poorer nations–and to get buy-in (literally) from those poorer nations for the final Paris agreement. Climate negotiations leading up to the Paris conference called Continue reading PUBLIC COOLING ON ANTHROPOGENIC WARMING →

Apartments, High Density DD08 Zoning, Manningham Council, Vic State Government, Walking 19 comments

COUNCIL ON BOTH SIDES OF FENCE RE COVENANTS

By on November 10th, 2015

The integrity of the restrictive covenants on land in the Glen Towers estate, limiting development on each block to a single dwelling, are now under threat from a developer who has consolidated three allotments in Gilmore Rd and is applying for their removal to enable the construction of a three storey apartment development to height of 11 metres by providing the minimum land area of 1800m2.

Owner owns 3, 5 and 7 Gilmore Road Doncaster Click to enlarge

Glen Towers Estate
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Garden Setting Walker St Glen Towers Estate Click to enlarge

Garden Setting Walker St
Glen Towers Estate          South of Doncaster Road
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Manningham had stated they could not foresee any further development on the estate and had continually reassured the beneficiaries that there was no intention to remove the covenants even though council, being the proponent and designer, had already provided the catalyst for their removal by zoning the estate in the sub Precinct A for redevelopment. The then Manningham CEO had sent a letter to beneficiaries which said in part; “we advise that Council has never discussed any intent; holds no plan or desire; and, has not Continue reading COUNCIL ON BOTH SIDES OF FENCE RE COVENANTS →

Apartments, Federal Government, High Density developments, Manningham Council, Vic State Government 4 comments

POPULATION GROWTH IS NOT AN ECONOMIC PLAN

By on November 5th, 2015

“It will not improve the living standards of you or I; nor will it reduce poverty and inequality or foster innovation and creativity. The only beneficiaries of high immigration are the immigrants themselves and while that is great, we can safely say that the government is not pursuing immigration for humanitarian reasons. Instead it is creating an illusion of growth while hoping you don’t realise the reality”. Excerpt from The Big Australian Illusion by Callum Pickering for The Business Spectator.

By Michael Mucci for Sydney Morning Herald

By Michael Mucci for
Sydney Morning Herald

Callum Pickering For The Business Spectator Click to Enlarge

Callum Pickering 

We thank Mary Drost AOM,  Convenor of Planning Backlash for forwarding this article.  “Backlash have repeatedly called on the state government to moderate population growth.  Melbourne is being forced to grow at an alarming rate but clearly at the expense of infrastructure which has remained stagnant.”

Callum Pickering wrote; Australia has the highest population growth in the developed world. But what are our immigration policies trying to achieve? Continue reading POPULATION GROWTH IS NOT AN ECONOMIC PLAN →

Apartments, High Density developments, Manningham Council, Vic State Government 4 comments

CHEAPER TO PAY RENT THAN TO BUY APARTMENT

By on October 30th, 2015

If you had purchased a detached house in Doncaster around December 2011 and sold it today the sale price could have doubled. In the same period apartment prices in the area have not increased which means many apartment owners wanting to sell this year would be lucky to redeem their initial outlay.

Houses Shown in Blue Units in Red/Brown Click to enlarge

House Rents Shown in BLUE
Units in RED/ORANGE
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Apartment Sale Boards

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If a couple had taken out a high ratio loan to purchase an apartment, say a mortgage of $400,000, the weekly payments would have been approximately $500.00 plus outgoings, such as owners corporation and municipal rates, the weekly commitments could have been close to $600.00. Currently a detached house in Doncaster could be rented for approximately $500.00 weekly and a two bedroom apartment for less than $450.00. You would be far better off Continue reading CHEAPER TO PAY RENT THAN TO BUY APARTMENT →

High Density DD08 Zoning, Manningham Council, Town House Style Development 17 comments

DEVELOPER WANTS EXTRA STOREY DISPENSATION

By on October 20th, 2015

DDO8 concerning the 51-53 Beverley St proposal in Sub-Precinct A (In red italic for emphasis) is:

Sub-precinct A is an area where two storey units (9 metres) and three storey (11 metres) ‘apartment style’ developments are encouraged. Three storey, contemporary developments should only occur on land with a minimum area of 1800m2. Where the land comprises more than one lot, the lots must be consecutive lots which are side by side and have a shared frontage. The area of 1800m2 must all be in the same sub-precinct. In this sub-precinct, if a lot has an area less than 1800m2, a townhouse style development proposal only will be considered, but development should be a maximum of two storeys.

Quality Homes In Beverley Street Click to enlarge

Neighbourhood Character  Two Storeys in Beverley St
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Cross Section 3 Storey at 51-53 Beverley Street

Cross Section of 3 Storey
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3 Storey At 51-53 Beverey Click to enalrge

3 Storey Town House Style proposal Beverley Street
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Residents of East Doncaster are outraged that another three storey town house style development would be proposed at 51-53 Beverley Street after a previous proposal of similar design had been withdrawn. It was expected that any future permit application would only be a two storey town house development because the land area is less than 1800 Sqm. Manningham council had already rejected Continue reading DEVELOPER WANTS EXTRA STOREY DISPENSATION →

Manningham Council, Public Health, Traffic & Parking, Transport, Vic State Government 3 comments

CAR POOLING MIGHT EASE TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK

By on October 17th, 2015

An independent study has found that, unless action is taken soon, the number of privately owned vehicles in Melbourne will grow by almost 50% by 2021, creating unprecedented congestion, poor quality of life and a damaged economy. The report, prepared by Philip Boyle & Associates, a leading public transportation consultant, concluded car share is virtually the only solution to this problem.

Gridlock Click to enlarge

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Car Pooling Click to enlargeAccording to the GoGet blog, a study commissioned by the City of Melbourne also found that if carsharing services, such as those they provided, are widely implemented they will deliver $45 million in net economic benefit by 2021, including a significant improvement of local shopping and public health. The researchers were unambiguous in the importance of carshare for the future of transport in City of Melbourne is  “[Carshare]  the single most Continue reading CAR POOLING MIGHT EASE TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK →

Bicycling, Federal Government, Manningham Council, Obesity, Public Health, Road Safety, Transport, Walking 3 comments

COUNCILS LIABLE FOR INJURY ON SHARED PATHS

By on October 14th, 2015

Manningham must now build dedicated bicycle paths–Footpaths are for pedestrians. Leading law firm Slater and Gordon have confirmed that Councils and the RTA  could be liable for any deaths or injuries occurring on shared bicycle paths. Currently there are no Speed Limits–No Risk Analysis or Duty of Care –No Insurance Cover–No Identification Required for Cyclists–No Means of Enforcing.

Dangers of Shared Paths Click to enlarge

Dangers of Shared Paths
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Manningham Dual Paths Click to enlarge

Council Wanted Shared Paths
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 Councils are creating these Shared Paths all over Australia and as a result, all pedestrians, especially children and the elderly are at great risk. It is an offence for anyone over the age of 12 to ride a bicycle on the footpath.  However, the Australian Road Rules allow the authorities to create a Shared Bicycle Path (SBP) and invite all cyclists to ride upon them.Currently, the following outrageous conditions generally prevail: Few if any Councils have undertaken Continue reading COUNCILS LIABLE FOR INJURY ON SHARED PATHS →