Smorgysbord of objections now settled
The heavily vandalised Smorgy's restaurant was branded a fire hazard after sitting vacant for several years. Police are still investigating the cause of last week's inferno including a Facebook posting claiming responsibility.
Planning authorities have approved 378 units in five buildings for the 1091 Plenty Road Smorgy's site, reducing the height of the buildings and the number of apartments originally proposed by developer Park Rise Australia.
Fairfax Media has been unable to contact Park Rise Australia.
The mysterious developer has never made public comment about the proposal and its business address is listed at a Richmond development site.
The original controversial 474-unit proposal lodged in May 2011 attracted strong opposition from residents and Darebin Council, including 700-odd objections.
It generated "passionate debate about the intensity of built form that should be allowed on the site", the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal said in its ruling.
"There have been many versions of the development but what we are now approving represents a significant reduction in scale both in built form and in the number of dwellings," VCAT determined.
Opponents were concerned about parking, road access and the building imposing on nearby parkland.
The site has a mix of native and exotic trees that will be cut down to make way for the new buildings but VCAT ordered a tree-root exclusion zone to protect mature trees nearby.
"At least two of the trees near the site pre-date European settlement and must be protected," Darebin's mayor Tim Laurence said.
The approved development has five buildings between four and eight storeys that include two levels of basement car parking for 491 cars and two retail premises up to 1000 square metres in size.
Previously the developers applied for buildings up to 10 storeys tall.
The apartments will face on to the popular Bundoora Park, which contains indigenous River Red Gum woodlands, a children's farm, golf course and heritage village.
On the other side of Plenty Road the former Larundel psychiatric hospital is undergoing significant residential redevelopment.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Victorian planning authorities (VCAT) approved a five-building apartment development at 1091 Plenty Road that includes 378 units in buildings between four and eight storeys. The approval also allows two levels of basement car parking for 491 cars and two retail premises of up to 1,000 square metres.
The developer named in the proposal is Park Rise Australia. Fairfax Media reported it was unable to contact Park Rise; the company has not made public comment about the proposal and its listed business address is at a Richmond development site.
The original May 2011 proposal sought 474 units and buildings up to 10 storeys. VCAT's approved plan reduces the scale and the number of dwellings to 378 across five buildings, which the tribunal described as a significant reduction in built form and unit count.
The original proposal attracted strong local opposition—about 700 objections—because residents and Darebin Council were concerned about the intensity of the built form, parking and road access pressures, and the development imposing on nearby parkland.
The heavily vandalised Smorgy's restaurant, long labelled a fire hazard, was incinerated in a suspicious overnight blaze. Police are investigating the cause, including a Facebook posting that claimed responsibility.
Some trees on the site will be removed to make way for the new buildings, but VCAT ordered a tree-root exclusion zone to protect mature trees nearby. Darebin's mayor noted at least two nearby trees pre-date European settlement and must be protected. The apartments will also face onto Bundoora Park.
The new apartments will face Bundoora Park, which contains indigenous River Red Gum woodlands, a children's farm, a golf course and a heritage village. Across Plenty Road, the former Larundel psychiatric hospital site is undergoing significant residential redevelopment.
VCAT's ruling finalised a reduced-scale development for the site—settling long-running objections and defining key elements such as unit numbers, building heights, parking and tree protections. For stakeholders, that ruling represents a clear planning outcome compared with earlier, larger proposals.
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