Image: truck parking in the existing loading zone in Northumberland St.

Council voted at a Planning Meeting on 26 February to issue a planning permit for a 10-storey development at Cecil and York Streets comprising offices, supermarket, shops, food and drink premises. One objector to the development said “The 10-storey design does not conform to building controls imposed by Design and Development Overlay (DDO). Notably the visual bulk exceeds the sight lines in the architectural diagrams. The proposed development is stepped back from York Street in a series of steps but has excessive bulk on the Cecil, Market and Northumberland Streets”. 

Port Phillip planning department have overlooked the non-compliance issue with DDO controls with respect to excessive visual bulk based on recent VCAT precedents. 

As a condition of approval Council has requested the developer to investigate the removal or relocation of the loading bay on Northumberland Street to facilitate improved access to the street and car park entry. The condition was imposed following concerns regarding the impact of multiple semitrailers entering the loading bay on traffic in surrounding streets. Large supermarkets typically have twelve delivers per day.

The proposed development includes a large supermarket on the ground floor and has a loading bay for deliveries located on Northumberland Street which is only four metres wide and has one-way traffic. Trucks must turn right from York Street into Northumberland Street to enter the loading bay. 

A local business owner, asked “If Northumberland Street is blocked with parked cars, then what will be the impact of semitrailers lined up in York Street attempting to enter the loading bay? Is the loading bay located in the correct place?”

The truck pictured in Northumberland Street (see image) is around 9m long and is significantly smaller than the 12m trucks that supply supermarkets. There are frequently large vehicles parked beyond the loading zone, obstructing the street entry and street access is made worse because council parking officers do not routinely enforce parking restrictions in this area. 

A detailed ‘traffic management plan’ must be implemented by Council officers to ensure traffic movements are not impeded by parking violations.

Plans to relocate the Coventry Street ramp entrance to the rooftop market car park to York Street are expected to compound traffic congestion in York Street. An objector asked, “What will be combined impact of a York Street entrance together with trucks attempting to access the Northumberland Street loading Bay from York Street?” 

Concerns were also raised over the impact of the proposed 327 carparks in the new building on traffic in Market, Cecil and York Streets. The development will accommodate over 800 people in retail and office spaces. An objector asked why “Why was the developer given dispensation of 490 car parking spaces? Does the plan assume that nearly 500 people will take public transport or ride or walk to work? What will be the impact of traffic congestion and parking if many of the retail and office workers choose to use a car?”  

Beti Jay said “It is surprising that Port Phillip Council would consider approving a 10-storey building for offices and a supermarket when we have a housing crisis. Why would Councillors support the approval of a 10-storey building which is excessive in visual bulk and will significantly worsen traffic congestion at the South Melbourne Market which is already too busy.  

Do we really need another supermarket so close to the South Melbourne Market – we already have a Coles, Woolworths and Aldi in close proximity. We have heard the large supermarket companies are aggressively acquiring real estate to ensure their market dominance. Does the Council want to force more fruit and vegetable traders to leave the market?”