Apartments, Fire Safety Compliance, High Density developments, Manningham Council, State Government 22 comments

COUNCILS TO REPORT ON COMBUSTIBLE CLADDING

By on September 6th, 2017

APARTMENT OWNERS MIGHT HAVE TO PAY FOR CLADDING REMOVAL

Manningham is among several Melbourne councils who have been asked to identify apartment buildings with flammable cladding, particularly those less than 25 metres (up to 8 storeys) high where there is no legal requirement to install a sprinkler system. This follows inspections previously conducted by the VBA, which investigated 170 buildings in Melbourne for non-compliant cladding where 51% of those assessed were found to be non-compliant  Councils are to investigate the presence of aluminium cladding in apartment buildings, the same product that caused the Lacrosse apartment building to catch fire in 2014 and the recent London fire where at least eighty residents had perished in the inferno. 

Whole Building  Crumbling    Click to enlarge

The Combustible cladding on the Lacrosse high-rise apartment building will have to be removed from the building at the apartment owners expense after it was found that the cladding posed a “significant and unacceptable” risk to hundreds of residents. In January this year the Building Appeals Board again ordered the owners to remove the flammable cladding. It dismissed a bid by LU Simon Builders to keep the cladding and instead install more sprinklers, saying the equipment might fail  with “catastrophic” results. “The risk posed by the current cladding is so serious that it is necessary to have a building order which requires the owners to remedy the situation,” it found. This means the owners of the Lacrosse apartments could be left with an $8.6 million  Continue reading COUNCILS TO REPORT ON COMBUSTIBLE CLADDING →

Apartments, Manningham Council, Public Health, Recycled Sewer Water, Yarra Valley Water 15 comments

SEWAGE PLANT WILL PROCEED DESPITE LAND BAN

By on August 15th, 2017

Yarra Valley Water appears set to compulsory acquire council land to construct a Sewer Treatment Plant for the purpose of supplying water extracted from the main sewer line to all new dwellings on Doncaster Hill.  This comes after the Manningham Council had refused to issue a building permit and resolved that it would not lease or sell council land for the purposes of a Sewer Mining Plant.           Further Info this link .. ………..   Consultation On Sewer Plant Location  

The 47 hectare Eastern Golf Course, located immediately to the west and downstream from Doncaster Hill, was to be the ideal location for the Sewer Treatment Plant on one of several open space reserves on the estate close to the sewer main. Just when it was thought it was being finalised, the Tram Road reserve, 1.4 kilometers away, became the preferred option. Geraldine Sharp was a supporter of the Golf Club option; “It flattened me when I heard that Council had changed their minds Continue reading SEWAGE PLANT WILL PROCEED DESPITE LAND BAN →

Apartments, Councillors, Manningham Council, Panels Victoria 45 comments

COUNCIL MUST BACK CEO PROMISE ON COVENANTS

By on July 24th, 2017

“Support for covenant removal ONLY within the Doncaster Hill precinct”

Council pledge to ninety beneficiaries                                               Advice On Restrictive Covenants

“This latter piece of the advice is totally consistent with previous officer advic relating to properties ‘within’ the Doncaster Hill precinct where it would be beneficial for the property owners by consent or agreement to meet the objectives of the Doncaster Hill Strategy and under these circumstances *only*, Council is likely to support removal of a restrictive covenant”. ..*Authors bold emphasis* 

Glen Towers Estate

(Author in conclusion) “I can advise that Council has never discussed any intent; holds no plan or desire; and, has not foreshadowed any intention or interest at any time to take any action that would interfere with the protection that beneficiaries enjoy with Restrictive Covenants. A related question seems to be -is anyone else likely to do so? Council is not able to speak for the Minister or his Government but again, it makes no sense legally, practically or politically for any Government to contemplate such action (unless it relates to an Order under section 2010 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987” ..CEO 

Officer’s report in minutes below, item 3.27  “It is considered that the intent of the CEO’s assurance letter (when he used the word support) was really to convey that Council would not initiate any process to remove a covenant from land outside the Doncaster Hill precinct”.                Council minutes 26th Sept

Walker Street (Click)

There are still growing concerns among the ninety beneficiaries of the Glen Towers Estate’s restrictive covenants that the Manningham Executive may dishonor the above pledge by recommending that it’s councillors support this application for removal of restrictive covenant, be put before a special government panel for decision, the last place you would want to go for an impartial decision, instead of honoring its promise and advising that it be abandoned and thus setting a precedent for refusal of any similar application outside the perimeter of the Doncaster Hill precinct. Various previous attempts by landowners to  remove or vary covenants in the heart of the estate by way of a planning permit have been thwarted due to the vigilance of beneficiaries and other neighbours.

The landowner of 42 Walker Street, Doncaster whose previous two planning permit attempts were unsuccessful has now gone down a different path. He is now attempting to remove the covenant by way of a planning scheme amendment enabling the owner to build in accordance with the current high density zoning of sub-Precinct A. (up to 3 storeys)  A planning scheme amendment gives the Council as planning authority very wide powers to remove the covenant as long as it can be demonstrated that the removal of the covenant results in a “net community benefit” after the interests of beneficiaries have been considered. The test of “net community benefit” is far less strict than the detriment tests under the planning permit regime. The definition of community is much wider than the Glen Towers Estate and extends to the citizens of Manningham and Victoria. Hence, under the guise of improving housing choices and increasing housing supply in Victoria Councils are able to remove covenants through a planning scheme amendment.

What you must do if you wish to object to this amendment

Continue reading COUNCIL MUST BACK CEO PROMISE ON COVENANTS →

20/30 Authority, High Density developments, Manningham Council, Transport, Vic State Government 6 comments

MANNINGHAM PART OF SIX IN MELBOURNE’S EAST?

By on July 11th, 2017

Manningham annual rates were among the highest in the state because it depended almost entirely on them for its survival during the nineties and had come very close to being carved up among adjoining municipalities, as part of the government’s amalgamation plan, before it agreed to build a high-rise activity centre as part of the Melbourne 20/30 program. Now, twenty years on, according to the Committee for Melbourne research, one council, or a hand full of regional  councils for greater efficiency and would make economic sense by providing a better approach to planning.

Click to enlarge

Alojs from Cooma, whose father had worked for the Snowy River Authority, had moved to Doncaster in the period when Manningham council had prepared a number of medium density plans for a town centre in anticipation of the opening of the eastern freeway which was expected to ease traffic volumes in Doncaster Road. “We wondered what the hell was going on when buildings up to 15 storeys, as part of the Doncaster Hill Strategy, were  foisted upon us”. “No one wanted them because we did not have the infrastructure or street network for such a large undertaking and the area was too remote especially after the Cain Labor government had cancelled the railway line nearly a decade earlier”. Continue reading MANNINGHAM PART OF SIX IN MELBOURNE’S EAST? →

Apartments, Emergency Evacuation, Fire Safety Compliance, High Density developments, Public Safety 17 comments

HIGH RISE APARTMENT FEAR AFTER LONDON FIRE

By on June 23rd, 2017

Australian buildings are cloaked in “millions of square metres” of flammable cladding, and authorities have been aware of the safety threat since at least 2010. In the aftermath  of London’s apartment tower fire, the AGE newspaper revealed the BCA’S Board were told seven years ago.

“ONE SQUARE METRE OF CLADDING SAME ENERGY AS  FIVE LITRES OF PETROL”

Thousands of buildings in Sydney and Melbourne are feared to be covered in cladding similar to the Continue reading HIGH RISE APARTMENT FEAR AFTER LONDON FIRE →

Apartments, High Density DD08 Zoning, Manningham Council, State Planning, Town House Style Development 18 comments

SAVING OF BACKYARDS AND BOOSTING LIVABILITY?

By on June 9th, 2017

Garden Area Or Open Space? What Is The Difference?

 “An uncovered outdoor area of a dwelling or residential building normally associated with a garden. It includes open entertaining areas, decks, lawns, garden beds, swimming pools, tennis courts and the like. It does not include a driveway, any area set aside for car parking, any building or roofed area,  not under the eaves, or any area with a dimension of less than one metre.”

Quality Established Homes in Sub-Precinct A  in the General Residential Zone

Judith Dixon writes: “the 35% minimum garden area requirements are nothing more than a distraction on the part of the Victorian Government Planning Dept to divert attention away from their back flip Continue reading SAVING OF BACKYARDS AND BOOSTING LIVABILITY? →

Cycle Paths, Manningham Council, Townhouse Development, Vic State Government, Walking 13 comments

YVCC REDEVELOPMENT FOR DOWNSIZERS+LOCALS

By on May 23rd, 2017

LUXURY THREE BEDROOM TOWNHOUSES ALONG THE YARRA RIVER

Link Solutions executive director, Charles Pick, has taken the opportunity to inform our group about their redevelopment proposal at Yarra Valley Country Club (YVCC) in Bulleen, which is over 67 acres in size. The proposal has recently been supported by the City of Manningham to be referred to a State Government Committee to ensure rezoning and land swap benefits are realised. 

River Views and Open Space                                                                                             

Linked Solutions have tackled this site differently to the ‘run of the mill’ development approach many locals find incredibly frustrating. “We don’t want just another set of houses”. “We want to leave behind a lifestyle and community that benefits those living there, and the residents living nearby YVCC”. Continue reading YVCC REDEVELOPMENT FOR DOWNSIZERS+LOCALS →

Traffic Congestion, Transport, Vic State Government, VicRoads 8 comments

N.E. LINK MEANS MORE CARS….LESS TRAIN TRAVEL

By on May 12th, 2017

NORTH EAST LINK TO SHIFT 25 K RAIL PASSENGERS A DAY TO CARS

“The project would contribute to an increase in car trips and reduction in public transport trips across the network. Because of the location of the project, it competes most directly with sections of the rail network, principally the Hurstbridge, Mernda, Upfield and Craigieburn corridors. This is reflected in an estimated reduction in train boardings of 25,000 on an average weekday. Metro Ring Road, East Link and Eastern Freeway are expected to increase demand” .. Infrastructure Vic    

The State Labor Continue reading N.E. LINK MEANS MORE CARS….LESS TRAIN TRAVEL →

Apartments, Manningham Council, Town House Style Development, Vic State Government 20 comments

NEW ZONES COULD REDUCE SIDE STREET DENSITY

By on April 23rd, 2017

Given the form of multi unit development already established in the area and the costs associated with the acquisition of three sites to enable apartments, it is likely that most redevelopment in the DDO8 area will be two storey townhouse developments in courts and side streets off main roads.

Two Storey TownHouse Development 7.7 m height
                         Click to enlarge

The Reformed Residential Zones will mean the current DDO8 will be subject to the terms and conditions of the General Residential Zone (GRZ). It will remain intact except that the height criteria will be more defined. Maximum heights and number of storeys, (11 metres and three storeys), will now apply to apartment proposals on allotments 18oo m2 or more in sub-precinct A. A lower height formula (9 metres and two storeys) will apply to townhouse developments in sub-precinct B and on allotments of less than 1800 m2 in sub-Precinct A. Continue reading NEW ZONES COULD REDUCE SIDE STREET DENSITY →

Apartments, Councillors, Manningham Council, Traffic & Parking, Transport 8 comments

ALL DAY PARKING FOR CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES

By on April 6th, 2017

If Manningham is genuinely concerned about relieving the pressure on the 400  parking spaces available at the Park and Ride facility, which also caters for City bound commuters from neighbouring Boroondara area, it must provide alternative areas for long stay parking. One method could be to allow long stay parking in side streets adjacent to the Doncaster Road Bus route such as what is currently being extended to construction vehicles associated with apartment development.

All Day Side Street Parking for Construction Vehicles                                                             Photo J. Stanford

A multi deck car park at Park and Ride needs to be erected as soon as possible especially if a future rail line is to be Continue reading ALL DAY PARKING FOR CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES →