Team Doyle heritage conflict

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and his fellow Team Doyle councillors were unable to vote on a heritage review affecting Southbank and Fishermans Bend last month due to election donations.

Councillors Doyle, Wood, Riley, Sullivan and Reece were all forced to declare a conflict of interest at the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on September 19 and the quorum was subsequently lost.

This was because it accepted a 2016 election donation from Crown Casino board member Harold Mitchell. Crown is located within the zone of the review.

Nevertheless, it is unlikely to have changed the outcome, with council officers’ recommendation for a number of local sites to be included for interim and permanent heritage control endorsed.

The recommendation was also supported by all submitters, which included Melbourne Heritage Action president Tristan Davies and Southbank Residents’ Association president Tony Penna.

Council will now request that Planning Minister Richard Wynne approve interim heritage controls to certain sites through amendment C304, as well as permanent protection to others through C305.

Some Southbank sites included for new heritage overlays include the Spencer St Bridge, the new St Johns Lutheran Church, the Vault sculpture on Grant St and the Queensbridge Hotel.

Due to not being able to fully access many sites within Fishermans Bend, council recommended not to introduce heritage protection in the area until further collaboration with the State Government and landowners was undertaken.

Council also recommended deleting 15 overlays in Southbank, due to building demolition or mapping errors.

To full review is available via the City of Melbourne’s website.