Whitehorse to vote on development plan for Forest Hill’s television studio site where Neighbours is filmed

A DEVELOPMENT plan for Forest Hill’s television studios where Neighbours is filmed looks doomed before it goes before Whitehorse Council next week.

FremantleMedia's Forest Hill television studios where Neighbours is filmed.

A DEVELOPMENT plan for Forest Hill’s television studios where Neighbours is filmed looks doomed before it goes before Whitehorse Council on Monday night.

The Forest Ridge Development Plan for 104-168 Hawthorn Rd, Forest Hill will go before councillors on September 18, however the meeting agenda notes council officers recommended not support the plan.

The development plan for the 9ha site, submitted by 10 Consulting Group, features up to 700 apartment dwellings ranging from two to six storeys, while the three main buildings of the heritage protected television studio would remain.

The planned six-storey buildings are in an area which specifies building heights of up to four storeys, a lack of information regarding which existing trees would be retained, the plan does not meet the public open space requirements, and the applicant has not obtained VicRoads support in relation to what impact the proposal would have on the intersection of Springvale and Hawthorn roads.

The plan was originally discussed by the council at the end of June where it was approved to be released for public comment.

Whitehorse received 101 submissions in response, 72 of which opposed the development while the other 29 raised concerns with the plan (two submissions offered general support).

The former ATV-0 Television Studios opened in 1964, and in 1967 was the first station in Australia to broadcast in colour. In 1980 ATV-0 became known as Network 10 and moved to South Yarra in 1992.

The studio is now leased by FremantleMedia which films and produces the long-running television soap Neighbours on location.

The Whitehorse Council meeting will begin at 7pm on September 18 at the Nunawading Civic Centre.