Thousands raised to fight demolition of filmmaker’s former Albert Park home
Filmmaker Paul Cox’s former Albert Park home has been saved at VCAT thanks to passionate opposers who raised thousands of dollars to cover legal fees.
Inner South
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A historic Albert Park home has been saved from the wrecking ball in a win for passionate objectors who stumped up thousands of dollars to fight a four-storey apartment complex.
The Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal last week dismissed an appeal against Port Phillip Council’s refusal of plans to demolish the 138-year-old Victoria Avenue house — once home to late filmmaker Paul Cox.
The tribunal found the proposed apartments were not a suitable replacement building “of sufficient architectural merit-design excellence”.
Amber Moore, a member of Don’t Destroy Albert Park, which raised $35,000 for legal fees and expert representation at the tribunal hearing, said the group was overjoyed with the verdict.
Ms Moore said the grassroots campaign to raise the money was driven by the desire to have community voices heard.
“We thought it was worth it,” she said.
“It’s a huge win for the community — it’s unbelievable.”
Senior tribunal member J.A. Bennett and member Juliette Halliday, in their conclusion, said the demolition of the building would be justifiable if a suitable replacement was proposed.
But they said they were “not persuaded” the proposed complex achieved a “net community benefit when assessed against the relevant, but sometimes competing planning scheme provisions we are required to take into consideration”.
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Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross said the house was a “quirky local landmark which is much loved by our community”.
“Our council said last year that the proposed design was not in keeping with the heritage surroundings and we maintained this position during the VCAT hearing,” he said.
“We are very pleased that the tribunal has affirmed this view.”
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