Proposed 33-storey tower at Station St, Box Hill approved by council

WHITEHORSE Council has approved a controversial 33-storey tower at Station St, Box Hill but wants more car parking included.

An image of what the proposed 33-storey tower at 545 Station St, Box Hill would look like.

A CONTROVERSIAL application for a 33-storey tower in Box Hill has been approved by Whitehorse Council.

In a decision tweeted by Leader, councillors voted 8-2 in favour of the Barton Group and AFX Group's application for a 114-metre tower at 545 Station St, on the corner of Carrington Rd, at last night's council meeting.

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But the council has asked the developers to amend plans to include more car parking.

The proposal did not meet the parking requirements under the council's planning scheme, allowing for only 288 car spaces.

Instead, the council has asked for a minimum of 408 car parks.

Councillors were torn over the decision, with Cr Harris moving an alternative motion to refuse the permit, which was defeated 6-4.

Cr Harris said she was concerned the tower would worsen traffic congestion and parking problems in the area.

Cr Raylene Carr believed there should be more than 900 car parking spaces.

"(Parking and congestion) are a nightmare now and it's only going to get worse," Cr Carr said.

But Cr Robert Chong said investment and development was needed in Box Hill.

"This development will provide shopping facilities, attract more people and brighten Box Hill.

"If we don't do something to improve Box Hill it will fall behind other areas."

He said he believed it would be a "catalyst" for other large-scale developments in the area.

"It will help Box Hill cope with a demand for affordable housing," he said.

The application includes 419 apartments and five levels of underground parking.

It includes 13 three-bedroom apartments, 264 two-bedroom apartments, 70 one-bedroom apartments and 72 studios.

It would feature food and restaurant venues, office spaces, a gym and pool.

The council vetoed the group's original $101 million proposal for a 39-storey tower in 2009.

The application was bound for the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal before then-Planning Minister Justin Madden intervened to reject it in June 2010.

In September last year Leader reported a new application had been lodged with the council. Another application in 2012 was placed on hold by the developers.

Leader has contacted the AFX Group for comment.