Petition begs State Govt to lower Glen Eira height limits

Hundreds of people are pleading with the State Government to overturn “unfair” height limits in Melbourne’s leafy inner south, fearing the area will become a “high-rise suburb” after several mammoth developments got the nod.

The former Daily Planet brothel on Horne St will be replaced by an eight-storey apartment tower.

Almost 2000 people are calling on the government to overturn Glen Eira’s height limits to stop a “wave of inappropriate developments” overshadowing and clogging up their leafy streets.

A 1747-signature petition is calling on Planning Minister Richard Wynne to immediately review and lower the interim height limits approved in August, which currently allow up to 12 storeys in parts of Elsternwick and Caulfield.

The discretionary limits are often overturned at VCAT and have allowed several mammoth developments to get the green light from Glen Eira Council, most recently an eight-storey apartment block — reduced from 12-storeys — on the former Daily Planet brothel site on Horne St, Elsternwick.

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Woolworths will also fight to get two 10 and 14-storey towers at the former ABC site on Selwyn St approved by VCAT this July.

An artist’s impression of the development Woolworths is fighting to have approved on the former ABC site on Selwyn St.

Key campaigner and 30-year Elsternwick resident Carmel Parker said residents had been fighting a long battle to stop such “excessive” development.

“We are in hope of the heights being reduced but do have little hope,” Ms Parker said.

“If (these buildings) go ahead, we’ll become a high-rise suburb and the whole neighbourhood will change.

“There’s not enough infrastructure to support it and you already can’t get on the trains, traffic flow will be horrendous and we’ll have an influx of overshadowing.”

Caulfield liberal MP David Southwick said it wasn’t fair Bentleigh and Carnegie “enjoyed 4-6 storey mandatory limits”, while Elsternwick’s amenity was under threat.

“(These) inconsistent and unfair height limits... have encouraged a wave of inappropriate high-rise development proposals,” Mr Southwick said.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne stood by Elsternwick’s planning controls and said any application to change height limits must have “strategic justification”.

“Thorough consideration is given to any request to change height controls in activity centres to ensure these places are developed responsibly and encourage growth in the right locations, close to existing infrastructure, transport and community services,” Mr Wynne said.

Mr Wynne confirmed he was also reviewing permanent controls for Bentleigh and Carnegie, at Glen Eira Council’s request.

Council’s planning and place director Ron Torres said Mr Wynne’s decision last year to make the interim controls discretionary and not mandatory meant “amenity, heritage and character remained uncertain” in the municipality.