Manningham Council seeks State Government deadline extension for Westfield Doncaster works

MANNINGHAM Council is now likely to decide on amendments to its planning scheme designed to facilitate the Westfield Doncaster redevelopment by February.

Manningham Council will seek a state government deadline extension to pass the necessary changes to its planning scheme for the Westfield Doncaster redevelopment. Picture Ellen Smith

MANNINGHAM Council is now likely to decide on amendments to its planning scheme designed to facilitate the Westfield Doncaster redevelopment by February.

Delays in planning due to Westfield buying land behind the Doncaster complex and subsequently altering the renovation project have forced the council to seek a State Government extension of its deadline to pass necessary amendments.

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Westfield’s proposals include:

A TOWER that could soar up to14 storeys above Williamsons Rd.

AN enhanced and expanded bus interchange at street level, closer to Williamsons Rd.

RELOCATING the existing main vehicle entrance from Williamsons Rd to Westfield Drive.

IMPROVED public spaces, including increased landscaping, new paving, and a new public forecourt.

AN extra 2793 parking spaces, bringing the total number to 7575.

Public submissions to the revised amendments closed on January 12 but the council must now adopt them before a two-year legislative deadline lapses.

Legislation requires a planning scheme amendment to be adopted within two years of being advertised. The original notice was published on July 21, 2016.

An independent planning panel hearing is still scheduled for September to consider submissions into the plans themselves.

Spokesperson Julia Clarke said the extension request had no bearing on the project timing from Westfield’s perspective.

“Once the amendment has gone through the required process we will likely lodge a planning permit for expansion of the centre (early next year),” she said.

The council’s city planning director Angelo Kourambas said they were satisfied with where the project was at.

“While the plans have generally been progressing in a timely manner, the acquisition of land in Westfield Drive has meant the amendment is approaching the two-year time frame on July 21,” he said.