The latest Fishermans Bend developer with a spring in their step?
One of Fishermans Bend's largest development applications is tonight poised to score a victory of sorts, with City of Melbourne officers urging management to support a massive development at 162-188 Turner Street, Port Melbourne.
Council officers have recommended support for the project of five towers, or nearly 1,500 apartments which would sit on a roughly 21,000 square metre plot abutting both Citylink and the West Gate Freeway. City of Melbourne's support shapes as a boost for proponent Springbank Properties Pty Ltd who have taken the matter to VCAT, owing to the Planning Minister's failure to determine the application within the prescribed time.
Springbank Properties Pty Ltd's Managing Director is Bede Noonan, who also doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of ACCIONA Geotech. Geotech is one of the more active participants in Melbourne development industry, providing geotechnical construction works across a wide range of projects.
In a submission to the Fishermans Bend Planning Review Panel, Mr Noonan outlined the history of 162-188 Turner Street's application which was submitted during 2015, whilst also rejecting proposed planning provisions across the site which would stymie the application in its current form.
According to City of Melbourne's report on the Turner Street application, five towers would appear onsite in a staged development process.
The sum result would see 1,483 apartments, 8,856 square metres of office, 2,743 square metres of retail, 876 car parking spaces and 1,375 bicycle parking spaces created via the Rothelowman-designed scheme. Refined over time, the latest iteration sees a drop in apartment numbers, office space more than double and car parking capacity diminish by 20%.
Dual basketball courts plus 297 square metres community space are also included.
Currently their head office, ACCIONA Geotech have indicated they would account for a portion of the office space located across the lower levels of the project when built. Three of the five intended towers would peak at the 40 level mark, with the remaining duo terminating at 36 and 28 levels.
Although supportive of the application, City of Melbourne has sought a reduction in the height of one tower in order to reduce overshadowing to a future open space. Council would also like to implement increased dwelling and land use diversity, plus add a tangible affordable housing component.
Owing to the demise or moderation of a number of other projects within Fishermans Bend, 162-188 Turner Street shapes as one of the largest applications still in play within the Urban Renewal Area.