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Sturt St heads to VCAT

Sturt St heads to VCAT
Sean Car

Architect turned developer Rothelowman is taking its application for a 19-storey mixed-use development for 153 Sturt St to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) next month.

One of a number of controversial developments earmarked for Sturt St, Rothelowman is pursuing approval through VCAT after the City of Melbourne failed to grant a permit within the prescribed time.

Local residents in the neighbouring Southbank Village received notification of the hearing from the developer’s lawyers last month, with the matter to be heard at VCAT over four days from July 16-18 and July 20.

Local residents from the Save Dodds Street group have been vocal opponents of high-rise developments along Southbank Village’s Sturt St spine, however current planning controls in the area have proved their biggest challenge.

Fellow neighbouring architect Hayball has an approval for an 18-storey tower at 135 Sturt St and both developments measure a little under 50-metres in height.

Former Liberal Minister for Planning Matthew Guy changed a former mandatory 40-metre height limit for Sturt St to discretionary, allowing developers to go up to 60-metres.

Current Minister for Planning Richard Wynne’s planning scheme amendment C270 failed to address height in the Arts Precinct, with Hayball’s proposal submitted under old rules and, therefore, setting a difficult precedent.

While the government recently introduced mandatory controls that enforce developers to provide creative uses within its first four floors, it has been unable to address concerns regarding height and setback.

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