By Henrietta Cook
EMBATTLED Liberal MP Geoff Shaw has come under fire from a community group in his own electorate over plans for a controversial eight-storey South East Water head office on the Frankston waterfront.
The proposed development was announced with much fanfare in July, and Mr Shaw said it would bring 700 extra jobs to Frankston.
Baillieu government MP Geoff Shaw.Credit: Pat Scala
But the location of the 25-metre high building has been contentious, and on Monday Mr Shaw emailed the Long Island Residents Group and said he would have preferred the development to be located elsewhere in Frankston. ''I personally would have preferred other sites in Frankston instead of public land right on the creek - that was not my choice, nor was I asked for an opinion - that was for South East Water and their board to decide.''
The planning debacle has raised new concerns over Mr Shaw's ability to retain the seat, which he holds by a 2.1 per cent margin.
Recent Liberal party polling is believed to show that the Coalition is in danger of losing the sandbelt seat, which is vital for Ted Baillieu's one-seat-majority government.
In the email to the residents' group, Mr Shaw said sites to the east near the railway station and private property to the north of the chosen site were better alternatives.
Mr Shaw said on Friday that he welcomed South East Water's decision to move its headquarters to Frankston.
Frankston City Council endorsed the development on Monday night, after selling the land to South East Water for $4 million and altering the planning scheme for the site to allow the development to reach up to 35 metres.
The site had been earmarked for a public plaza and Mr Shaw has promised $2.5 million to restore the creek and its surrounds.
Long Island Residents Group committee member Rob Thurley said Mr Shaw had broken his promise to restore the public space. ''It was meant to be turned into a public place where people could congregate, that's what was anticipated for decades.''
He described the consultation process as a sham and said residents only had three days to comment on the plans before they were endorsed by council and passed on to the Planning Minister. ''This site is not buried in the 'burbs, it's right on the waterfront.''
Frankston City Council chief executive Dennis Hovenden said the site was chosen because ''it would be attractive to SEW and the development of offices and hospitality next to Kananook Creek Boulevard would provide much-needed activation of the area''.
A South East Water spokeswoman said there had been a significant amount of community consultation. ''Residents were keen for future construction on the site to include a plaza and ample public space - this matched our own thinking, and has been reflected in the design.''
The spokeswoman said the development was expected to go to tender next year and South East Water was very conscious of the impact the building would have on the area.