Council Turnaround. Cr Ken Ong and Stephen Mayne threaten to remove residential parkling entitlements

The City of Melbourne in a surprised turnaround has ignored residents concerns and opposition to the establishment of an Early Childhood Learning Centre located in o0ne o0f South Yarras most historic iconic buildings, and in the process Crs Ken Ong and Stephen Mayne threatened to withdraw residential parking permits.  

Opposed to Residents Concerns

Robert Doyle	Ken Ken Ong	Stephen Mayne
Susan Riley		[ Kevin Louey
[ Cathy Oake	Rohan Leppert

   
Support for Residents

Richard Foster

Beverley Pinder-Mortimer

Jackie Watts

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 For the last two years the City Council engineers and planners have opposed the establishment of an early-learning centre, on the Corner of Toorak Road West and Leopold Street South Yarra, supporting residents concerns in relation to traffic management, parking, Safety and heritage.

Last weeks decision to support the development has come as a surprise given that very little has changed to address the problems foreseen with the proposed development with no net gain to the amenity of the area.

Goodrest is one of South Yarra's most prized heritage assets, located within a residential neighbourhood zone the proposed construction of a 28 underground car-park with the car park entrance off Toorak road, demolition of residential apartments at the rear and the construction of a new Commercial building in its place.

Only Two Councillors (Cr Beverly Pinder-Mortimer and Cr Kevin Louey) met with residents on site. Both indicated at the time they would be opposed to the granting of a planning permit.

Cr Louey later voted with the Lord Mayor to approve the development whilst Cr Pinder-Mortimer, who lives in the area, maintained her position and concerns over safety and planning. Cr Richard Foster spoke passionately in opposition to the granting of a permit and Cr Jackie Watts (who did not attend the meeting on September 1) has also privately indicated that she was opposed to the development.

The level of dissatisfaction with the City Council is growing, with some residents calling for a review of the City of Melbourne;s external boundaries.  The City Council is focused on the CDB, Kensington and North Melbourne,  Melbourne two Green Councillors sided with the Lord Mayor in supporting the non-conforming development

Listen to / download audio of the September 1 meeting:

Future Melbourne Committee meeting 1 September 2015 (MP3 50MB)