OCTOBER 2018 ISSUE 79 PRICELESS WWW.SOUTHBANKLOCALNEWS.COM.AU : SOUTHBANK_News The voice of Southbank, South Wharf & Montague ■ Council wobbles on Aus Day ■ A tour of the Arts Precinct Page 4 Special feature pages 12 - 13 ■ Sturt St up for sale ■ Melbourne Arts Festival Page 7 Arts Precinct Supplement Council laments Crown delay By Sean Car The City of Melbourne’s planning chair Cr Nicholas Reece says there is only so long the council can tolerate Crown Resorts and Schiavello’s delay in upgrading Queensbridge Square. His comments come after Crown Resorts keen to get on with these works.” released its annual report last month, which Conditions in Amendment C310 state that reveals its six-star hotel and residential the developer must start construction within development One Queensbridge still two years from the date of the project’s remains subject to financing. gazettal. It also says the development must The company, along with joint-venture be completed within five years. partner Schiavello, received approval for With the March 2, 2019 deadline looming, what would be Australia’s tallest tower from it is now all but certain that Crown will the state government in March 2017 as a need to request an extension from the state project of “state significance”. government. Given exemption from the normal Given the delay, Southbank Local News planning process under planning scheme asked Crown Resorts if it would be willing Amendment C310, Crown and Schiavello’s to commit to delivering the upgrades to promised delivery of a $100 million “public Queensbridge Square and Southbank benefits package” was what helped get the Promenade ahead of starting construction, controversial project over the line. to which it replied: “Crown remains very The package contained long-awaited supportive of the project and the start of upgrades to Queensbridge Square, the project is related to Crown finalising the Sandridge Bridge and Southbank project financing and various agreements as Promenade – works all previously flagged by disclosed in our full year results.” the City of Melbourne. The council’s deputy planning chair Cr “There is only so long the City of Melbourne Rohan Leppert said both major parties can tolerate a delay to the upgrade of should rule out a post-election approval of Queensbridge Square,” Cr Reece told a time extension unless they were willing to Saving Shearwater Southbank Local News. “We think the size of engage the public in the process. this development is inappropriate and we’re “The onus is on Crown/Schiavello to request disappointed that works to Queensbridge another planning scheme amendment to City of Melbourne Cr Nicholas Reece, ExxonMobil Australia Square are being held up.” extend the expiry date in the incorporated chairman Richard Owen and Central Equity chairman Eddie “The upgrade of Queensbridge Square is document if that’s what they want to do.” an important part of the rejuvenation of Kutner teamed up last month to save Southbank's renowned Southbank. Given this is one of the most Continued on page 2. Shearwater sculpture. Find out how they did it on page 5. densely-populated parts of the city, we are EAT. DRINK. SHOP. ORGANIC 26 Fanning Street, SOUTHBANK 2 SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS ISSUE 79 Meet your local candidates Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade PO Box 23008 Docklands 8012 The Southbank and Tel: 8689 7980 Fax: 9602 2929 Montague Meet the www.southbanklocalnews.com.au Candidates event will be held Editor: Sean Car at the Boyd Community Hub Publisher: Hyperlocal News Pty Ltd on Tuesday, October 30. ABN: 57623558725 A render of Crown and Schiavello’s proposed upgrade of Queensbridge Square. Hosted by the Southbank Residents’ Tel: 8689 7980 Fax: 9602 2929 Association (SRA), candidates for [email protected] the seat of Albert Park Martin Foley Reader contributions are welcome. Council laments Crown delay (Labor), Andrew Bond (Liberal) and Please send articles and images to Ogy Simic (Greens) will all be present to Continued from page 1. [email protected] answer your questions heading into the November 24 State Election. Deadline for edition 80 is November 11. “The cynic in me suspects that Crown The owners’ corporations at neighbouring The event has been opened up to will wait until immediately after the state Freshwater Place and Prima Pearl have both Montague residents of South Melbourne election to request an extension.” previously expressed concerns over the to attend and will be moderated by tower’s bulk, height and setbacks. CONNECT “Given how important an issue this is, former City of Melbourne councillor Keep up to date with local news & events. Crown’s intentions should be made clear Having previously labelled the project an and Walkley Award winning journalist and Minister Wynne and Shadow Minister “unmitigated disaster”, Labor Member for Stephen Mayne. Follow us on Twitter Davis should both be ruling out any post- Albert Park Martin Foley wouldn’t commit to @SOUTHBANK_News The event will start at 6:30pm and election approval of a time extension hidden negotiating for such changes with his cabinet it’s free to attend. To register and for from public scrutiny.” colleagues, but said that he stood by his Like us on Facebook more information refer to the SRA previous comments. advertisement on page 4. Southbank Local News Former City of Melbourne councillor and Alliance for Gambling Reform member “I have expressed my concerns about the southbankresidents.org.au Stephen Mayne said an extension would give impact of this development previously. I Like us on Instagram the government power to negotiate changes stand by those comments,” he said. SouthbankLocalNews to Crown and Schiavello’s amendment. Your new point of view BUY OFF THE PLAN DISPLAY OPEN with 5% deposit* SAT - THURS from NOON-5PM and pay nothing until completion *T & C’s apply Cnr Kerr & Gladstone St South Melbourne îs.31553 ISSUE 79 SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS 3 A new opening for renters Questions By Sean Car over local The state government has shown its support for the emergence of the build-to-rent (BTR) market by job growth approving a 60-storey apartment tower at 260 City Rd, Southbank. By Meg Hill Developer Grocon has obtained approval news but said more needed to be done at a for Victoria’s first ever purpose-built BTR national level to make BTR more accessible. City of Melbourne Census of development, which will comprise 400 “I think it’s (BTR) starting to hit the road but Land Use and Employment apartments offered entirely to the rental we need to identify that this development market. (CLUE) data shows some (260 City Rd) is targeting the upper end. It’s shaky growth trends in While the Southbank development targets still a niche market,” he said. “It’s the general the higher end of the rental market, its market where we need to make it more Southbank over the past 10 approval is encouraging news for housing affordable for those who can’t afford it.” years. affordability in Victoria with hopes that it will “It’s encouraging that people are prepared be the first of many more to come. to invest in a new product but we need it Growth has been sporadic over the top Grocon head of residential Christian to be a permanent asset class and not just three employing industries – arts and Grahame said the approval was a great start transitional when the market is down.” recreation services, business services and manufacturing – for the past decade. that would ultimately lead to an increased Mr Pradolin is part of a growing chorus of supply of quality housing and more choice property industry members calling on the Arts and recreation services recorded a for Victorians. federal government to adopt a national loss of almost 25 per cent from 2007 to housing strategy, with BTR being one of its 2012, and had only regained a fraction of “We support the introduction of build- key areas of focus. that in 2017. to-rent in Victoria and believe it will be a thriving sector in the future, providing He said that, in order to make housing Business services grew by 2624 jobs from housing, community creation, investment more accessible to those who needed it, 2007 to 2012, but only 301 from 2012 to and employment for our growing state,” he the Commonwealth needed to overhaul 2017. said. the current system to encourage Australian Manufacturing fell from 5128 jobs in 2012 superannuation funds to invest in the “Grocon is poised to embrace the to 4226 in 2017. domestic housing market. opportunities in this emerging sector and we “Southbank has been transforming into look forward to working with government to “Australian super funds currently have an extension of the Central City, which get it off the ground.” invested several billion dollars of their Grocon’s approved tower at 260 City Rd. began the process of urban renewal in the members’ funds into private build-to-rents 1990s,” the CLUE report said. The BTR model, which focuses on building in America,” he said. “We need those funds properties to rent instead of selling them arrangements and making the case for BTR directed back into housing Australians by “The vast majority of residents live in to individual buyers, can provide high to the federal government. allowing the super funds to achieve their high-rise apartments, the tallest of which quality and well-maintained rental stock to is Eureka Tower, at 300m tall.” However, many of the barriers facing BTR sit required financial returns.” Victorian renters. with the Commonwealth. “If our collective governments collaborate In terms of employment types – part- time, casual, full-time and contractor – all As an emerging sector, the property industry “New ideas often take a while to navigate the and provide the necessary financial have recorded growth except contracting.