Newport timber yard plan update still angers

MORE than 200 objections have been lodged against a new development proposal for the former Newport timber yard.

A $9.6million, 45-dwelling apartment block, over three and four storeys (see artist’s sketch opposite), has been proposed for 6 Paine Street.

As reported by the Weekly in April, the developer’s earlier proposal for a three-storey, 42-dwelling apartment block was rejected by Hobsons Bay Council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

More than 80 objections against the first proposal were received by the council, opposing the proposed black, cube-like building.

Then in August, the Weekly reported residents felt “blackmailed” by a developer’s letter which indicated that if residents did not accept a new design, a four-storey, 136-dwelling social housing complex could be built without council approval.

The council denied that this was the case.

Resident Anthony Simmons said residents had been “taken aback” by the latest plans.

“The new proposal is essentially the same as the old proposal except it’s increased in size and density. That’s upset a lot of people and there’s a feeling of the process having failed them. They’ve changed the colour, but they’ve packed more people in; the population density is up by about 14per cent.”

The council’s planning and environment director, Peter Gaschk, said officers were still reviewing the application. Domain Hill Property Group town planner Eddie Zagami, acting for the developer, said the increased number of apartments was a “byproduct of the new design”.

“We believe we’ve addressed the design issues and as a result there are a few more apartments.”