Tuesday 30 August 2011

BlockLands on Bay Road

NO-ONE seems to perform any PROPER analysis of the 'cumulative' implications resulting from multiple High-Density developments located within 'a stones throw' of each-other?  It seems that no-one has learned from the ill-conceived nightmare that is Docklands!
There are now definite signs that Bay Road (and it's surrounds) is being transformed into a 'mini-Docklands'... without the water!
Maybe an appropriate name for it could be 'BlockLands on Bay Road'!?


And, with all due respect to the city of Bombay, maybe 'Bay Road' should be re-named 'Bombay Road'!?

Apart from other significant issues, the CUMULATIVE pressures of multiple High-Density developments on traffic and public transport have been totally ignored at the planning level!

Irreversible, ill-conceived 'social planning experiments' like this should be STOPPED, and completely re-thought!  A balanced approach to planning is sadly lacking!


Monday 1 August 2011

Another Nightmare on Bay Road

This 4089 square metre property was advertised for sale using the quote: 
"Its one acre of land zoned for hiugh density apartments on a main road, close to shops and you can get four (4) levels without having to go to VCAT."

Note: The misspelling of "hiugh" in the advertisement has been left intentionally... it seems like a appropriate Freudian-slip ie a compilation of high & huge!!!



This shows a Plan-View of ONE Storey of a FOUR Storey Development at 218 Bay Road, Sandringham. It shows about 40 'apartments' on the ONE storey, each averaging about 42 sq. metres internally. There are another TWO similarly configured stories... plus the ground floor.
The development 'boasts' about 115 apartments, 1 shop and room for about 128 cars, mostly to be 'stored/parked' in car-stackers!

  • 'Advertising' of the Planning Application has been  completed.
  • ONLY THREE objections were apparently received by Council ! This is VERY surprising, considering over 1000 objections were received against the development at 220-228 Bay Road! This apparent lack of 'objectors' seems to indicate that either (or both), 'advertising' was comprehensively inadequate, or many people of the community are 'exhausted' from dealing with the 'bully tactics' regarding 'enforced planning' at a State Government level!
  • The Planning Application was 'refused' by Bayside Council and a VCAT hearing has apparently been set for October 2011.  But, alas, past experience of VCAT hearings does not bode well for the local community.

Amongst other things, including loss of amenity for the local community, the implications for traffic movement in Bay Road & 'surrounds' are almost UNIMAGINABLE, considering the 'cumulative effect' of traffic from other nearby high-density developments!


It is hoped that the future residents enjoy the VERY close 'social interaction' this 'dormitory style' development will provide. Current media reports on 'high-density-living' suggest they will have MAJOR problems.