I am writing this letter out of concern for the future of the Bulleen Drive in site. As we all know the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) are the owners of a land parcel in 49 Greenaway Street Bulleen known as the Bulleen Drive in site. This land is approx 12.5 acres in area.
It has come to my attention and I have heard of rumours have been circulating about the future of this very valuable piece of land. I hope that they are only rumours but I am concerned that the current committee of GOCMV may decide to sell this property without realising its potential and its true value as a development site and as a valuable piece of real estate for the Greek Community.
I have in the past year also noted some misinformation that has been written in Neos Kosmos by a number of people in relation to the site.
A member of the committee had indicated in writing to Neos Kosmos that the site is contaminated and as such is not of a great value. In response to this I would say that in my knowledge of the site there is no contamination on the site. The site was never occupied by any industry that produced and or stored contaminated material. I am not aware of any expert reports that say otherwise.
My office was involved with the organising for the setting up of the special committee set up by the State Government to determine the future of this site and as such I feel that I am in a position to be able to inform the Greek community of some of the facts about this site.
It is undeniable that the location of this piece of land is in a very strategic and very sought after place. It is located within an area with a very large Greek population and is easily accessible via the eastern freeway. It is a very large piece of land and if it could be developed it would be able to provide very extensive facilities and uses and as such it would be a very expansive piece of real estate.
The land unfortunately is in its majority under a flood zone area which means that not much of it can be developed as is.
In order to determine the future for the development and rezoning of this valuable piece of land early in the year 2000 the then State Government set up a committee made up of Helen Gibson, Max Richards and William O’Neil and which committee held a number of hearings and received submissions from a number of interested parties including: GOCMV, City of Manningham, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, and residents.
After receiving submissions from all the above parties this special committee made its determinations and made its recommendations in January 2003 which included a Section 173 agreement for all parties to adhere for the development of this piece of land.
The Special Committee determined that the flood problem of the site can be resolved by the manipulation and relocation of soil from within the site (Western portion near the river) and the creation of a raised platform on the eastern portion of the land together with other drainage measures that will allow for the rezoning and the development of approx 5.5 acres of the land.
It was agreed that for this to happen a portion of the land near the Yarra river would be transferred to Parks Victoria so as to allow a connection between the land owned by Parks Victoria to the north and south of the site as well as the creation of a number of small lakes to the south west of the property which is to serve and manage the overflow of storm water collected from Greenaway Street, which is also partly flood prone.
The outcome of this Committee report and its recommendations provide for solutions to make the land a useful and developable parcel of land of a much greater value. This land can now be developed to the great benefit of the Greek Community.
The Advisory Committee recommended the rezoning to a mixed use zone. This allows for residential and business zone developments.
The panel agreed with Council that it was inappropriate for the schedule to the proposed design and development overlay to include a height restriction:
“The Advisory Committee agrees with Council on this matter also and considers that no height limits should be specified in the Design and Development Overlay. The visual impact of any development on the subject land will depend substantially on its specific design.”
Further, while the Advisory Committee did not consider a specific use or development it clearly envisaged commercial uses (trade supplies) and community facilities being appropriate for the site.
Any proposed development will ultimately require an amendment to the planning scheme. Unless the Minister can be persuaded to prepare the amendment, Council will be the relevant planning authority and their support will be required for the final controls. Council however should not be using policy to subvert the ‘deal’ which was agreed upon as to future use and development of the land.
I hope that the above clarifies and reinforces how valuable this piece of land is. Developing 5.5 acres of land within a mixed use zone provides for a multitude of development options. The fact that no height restriction is to be imposed in an overlay provides an opportunity for the architects to maximise the extent and scope of any development.
All the above should be taken into account before any decision on the future of the land is taken by any committee of the GOCMV.
*Peter Darmos is an architect for P I Darmos Architects Planners Interiors.