‘Dropped the ball’: Marvel Stadium precinct development plans slammed as ‘embarrassing’

Plans for a Marvel Stadium precinct redevelopment that would almost entirely hide a view of the venue from the water have been branded “one of the most embarrassing applications” the City of Melbourne has seen.

The plans are for a trio of towers on the waterfront side of the Marvel Stadium precinct.

Plans for a major redevelopment of the Marvel Stadium precinct have been branded “one of the most embarrassing applications” the City of Melbourne has ever seen.

Councillors went against the advice of their own town planners on Tuesday night by voting not to support plans for three buildings that locals have dubbed the “Great Wall of Docklands”.

The application – by state government agency Development Victoria and the AFL – would result in two new high-rise towers and a waterfront facade for the stadium being built in a move that would make the venue virtually unseen from the water.

Councillor Jamal Hakim questioned why Development Victoria and the AFL had failed to present their proposal to the Future Melbourne committee meeting, but said they must “go back to the drawing board”.

“This has to be one of the most embarrassing applications we’ve ever seen,” he said.

“Someone’s clearly dropped the ball on this application.

“Either that or we’re all missing something really dodgy that is made worse I think that no one’s here to speak on behalf of the applicant.”

Councillor Jamal Hakim says Development Victoria and the AFL should ‘go back to the drawing board’. Picture: Street Studio

On Wednesday morning, AFL spokesman Jay Allen said: “The AFL is committed to seeing the Docklands and Harbour Esplanade precinct flourish and has undertaken to work closely with council and the Victorian government to see the vision realised.”

The state government is considering fast-tracking plans for the 129m, 113m and 90m high buildings on the western fringe of the precinct along Harbour Esplanade.

While Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny will have the final say on the application, the council was on Tuesday night given a chance to comment.

Town planners supported the “broad design vision” to create “a landmark mixed-use development that supports the city’s relationship with Harbour Esplanade and to create a new destination for the stadium precinct and Docklands”.

They recommended councillors “do not object to the application” despite flagging “outstanding key matters”, including a lack of community benefit and absence of any “strategic documents”.

But in a surprise move, all 10 councillors at Town Hall on Tuesday night endorsed another motion that stated the project “cannot be supported by the City of Melbourne prior to the resolution of outstanding key matters”.

The state government is considering fast-tracking plans for three towers on the waterfront side of the Marvel Stadium precinct.

The Herald Sun last week reported that concerns had been raised about building height, design principles, lack of affordable housing and the creation of a “wall effect”.

Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece told the meeting: “We will not repeat the mistakes of the past in Docklands, but that is what will occur if we were to support this proposal in its current form.

“I strongly encourage our friends at Development Victoria and the AFL to work with us to address these concerns.”

Councillor Rohan Leppert called on the state government to “lead by example”.

“This is among the largest and most significant developments and it is co-sponsored by government,” he said.

“It is not good enough that the entire strategic framework is missing.”

One Docklands resident told the meeting the trio of towers would “split the suburb”.

“How is reducing access into and out of the area of benefit to the precinct?” she asked.

In a joint pitch for government approval, Development Victoria and the AFL said: “The ambition is to create a landmark mixed use development that reinvents the city’s relationship with Harbour Esplanade … a new destination in the urban civic landscape of one of the world’s most liveable cities.

“It will be a contribution to the future skyline looking towards the city, creating a new harbourside precinct and high quality public realm for Docklands.”

But town planners, in a report, said the plans did “not provide sufficient strategic justification particularly with regard to how it responds to Central Pier and the waterfront”.

“The proposal seeks a significant uplift in the context of existing planning controls without the provision of a commensurate public benefit, such as affordable housing and/or investment into the upgrade of Harbour Esplanade,” they said.

The application before Ms Kilkenny relates to an amendment to the planning scheme.

If approved, another application for the redevelopment will be submitted and brought back before the City of Melbourne.

A state government spokesperson said the council’s position would be taken into account before a decision was made.

“Any proposal will be considered on its merits,’’ they said.