To: Moreland Planning Department

Re: Application No. MPS/2008/313  - 72-106 Dawson Street, Brunswick 

Save the Brickworks strongly opposes the proposed changes to the Development Plan and associated Planning Application. We have had a brief opportunity to view the plans, and on this basis offer this initial objection to meet Council’s timeframe, and may further expand on this objection following further opportunity to consider the proposal. 

Based on the documentation available, STB is concerned that: 

• The development will severely impact the national heritage values of this important place – Brunswick’s iconic brickworks

 

• The changes are not in accordance with the original Development Plan which represented a compromise position and an agreed basis to proceed, nor do they accord with the 2006 revised Development Plan to which STB objected.

 

• The extent of change being proposed is massive, and is not in accordance with the Development Plan. A planning scheme amendment and a public exhibition process is required to enable the many affected parties to properly consider and respond to this new proposal.

 

• The proposed changes are not in accordance with the conservation management plan and run counter to its spirit and policies in a number of areas particularly in relation to:
• the extent of changes now proposed to the kilns
• the creation of a large number of small, closed-off commercial spaces in Building 5 – a building where the primary use under the Heritage Victoria permit is to be for an interpretation centre
• the extent of car parking covering the space between the kilns and Blg 5, a space supposed to be available for community uses, with car parking now right up to building 5 and over the footprint of Kiln 1 (with the below ground carparking destroying any surviving archaeology associated with Kiln 1).

 

• The proposed changes are poorly documented. There is no justification for such a major change of direction and no evidence is offered as to how this proposed change to the Development Plan will achieve what all of the past agreements and permits issued to the developer have not achieved – effective conservation of this important place which was the primary goal in the initial rezoning.

 

• The changes will not enhance the urban quality and residential amenity of the existing development; instead it will exacerbate problems faced by the residents.

 

• The mix, location and size of the areas devoted to particular uses have not been justified in terms of economic analysis, nor is any financial data offered to show why the previous proposal – lauded by the developers as the only feasible option, has now been discarded.

 

STB views this proposal as another ill-conceived and poorly documented proposal, designed only to build the profits of the developers. 

In our view it is time that the developers were required to undertake all of the conservation works that they have promised, and to immediately rectify the damage that has resulted from their continuing neglect of this important site. 

Save the Brickworks urges Council to reject the proposal in the strongest terms. 

Lynne Oliver & Chris Johnston


savethebrickworks@yahoo.com.au