From the Mornington Environment Association (14/7/24)…
VCAT has denied the application to build a 14 storey high rise apartment at 438-444 Nepean Highway
Objectors to the proposal are delighted. They include the Long Island Residents Group, Kananook Creek Association, Mornington Environment Association and Port Phillip Conservation Council.
The tribunal said “This is a sensitive outlook, and we find the proposal’s height, in conjunction with other built form considerations, to be inappropriate and not what is anticipated in DDO14 or the Structure Plan, 2023…We also consider that a proposed height too closely replicating that of the Harbour development to the south, results in a lack of variation inconsistent with the general design requirement for buildings to create an interesting and varied skyline.
VCAT also found that the towers would result in an unacceptable visual bulk and mass viewed from the rear of properties in Gould Street and the creek environs and that it would result in the appearance of a solid mass across what is a large site when viewed from the town centre.
The tribunal also found that the interface between the lower ground level had not acceptably resolved the challenges of the Melbourne Water flood level requirement with providing suitably activated areas to this frontage.
Ann Robb, Mornington Environment Association
