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 →

Doncaster Templestowe Council, Transport, Vic State Government 4 comments

KEW TO DONCASTER TRAIN HAD THE GREEN LIGHT

By on March 28th, 2017

STANDING COMMITEE RECOMMENDED RAILWAY.LINE TO DONCASTER 1928

“terminating on the east side of Council street, opposite the shire hall”

Kew Railway Station 1928        Click to enlarge

Reporting on its inquiry into the many proposals which have been made for the provision of railway facilities for the Doncaster and Warrandyte districts, the Railways Standing Committee yesterday recommended to the Legislative Assembly the construction of a line from the present railhead at Kew to a point opposite the Doncaster Shire Hall. The proposed ex- tension will be six miles 29 chains long.

Assuming that the land for the line is provided free of cost by the people of the district, the estimated cost of the line is £494,970, of which £438,500 represents the cost of the actual construction and equipment of the line and stations, and £56,456 the cost of the necessary rolling stock. Argus 1928
Continue reading KEW TO DONCASTER TRAIN HAD THE GREEN LIGHT →

Air Pollution, Australian Government, Climate Change, Solar Power, State Government 6 comments

SOLAR INCENTIVE AFTER CLOSURE OF HAZELWOOD

By on March 16th, 2017

SOLAR FEED-IN TARIFFS TO REMAIN HIGH  AS VICTORIA CLOSES POWER STATION

FiT and Retail             Click to enlarge

The Victorian government has just made a move unprecedented in recent Australian solar history – they have moved to mandate a higher minimum solar feed in rate than what was previously on offer. From 1 July 2017, the new mandatory minimum rate for solar feed into the grid will be 11.3c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) however this not a fixed  rate and will be subject to review every year. Victoria will lose 20% of its power generation with the closure of the Hazelwood power station which has prompted a steep surge in electricity prices. Solar PV owners in Victoria had been receiving a paltry Feed in Tariff (FiT) rate of around 5-6 cents/kWh for their surplus electricity going back into the grid. This was then on-sold to neighbours, sometimes travelling only a few metres down the poles and wires, for 29c on average Continue reading SOLAR INCENTIVE AFTER CLOSURE OF HAZELWOOD →

Air Pollution, Electric Cars, Public Health, Traffic Gridlock 6 comments

POLLUTANTS THAT COME OUT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

By on March 6th, 2017

The major car pollutants are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides, carbon dioxide and particulates. Most pollutants come from the exhausts but brake pads, tires, oil, grease, anti-freeze, hydraulic fluids, and a number of cleaning agents can also contribute pollutants to the environment

Toxic Air Pollution Worse in Stop/Start Traffic
Click to Enlarge

While the government does monitor pollutants, these measurements bear little resemblance to the pollution you and your family experience while moving through daily life. EPA also requires that measured concentrations of regulated pollutants be averaged to determine compliance with standards. Especially in the case of Particulate matter (soot), for example, which can damage health.

Although we have grown to accept the smell of engine exhaust pollution as a part of our everyday life. This is Continue reading POLLUTANTS THAT COME OUT OF MOTOR VEHICLES →

Apartments, High Density developments, Vic State Government, VicRoads, Whitehorse Council 4 comments

BOX HILL CENTRE A CITY OF TINY CONCRETE BOXES

By on February 21st, 2017

This is for those interested in the future of Box Hill Major Activity Centre.  As far as I am concerned it is a total disaster and somewhere to stay away from.  Last time I went to check it I noticed there were two policemen on bicycles so I stopped and asked them what they were doing and they told me they have to be on bicycles to move fast to try to stop the sale of drugs going on openly. Mary Drost

Heights In Storeys

Dear Mary Drost – I am passing this on as some may be interested to hear Senior Whitehorse Planning officers explain the proposed amendment of building guidelines for Box Hill Major Activity Centre: http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Amendment-C175.html     

Nine precincts are Continue reading BOX HILL CENTRE A CITY OF TINY CONCRETE BOXES →