Ratio

Ratio Consultants was appointed to assist with a proposed development which includes a full line supermarket and speciality shops, a 46 room hotel with associated function rooms and restaurant, 3600sqm of office floor area and associated car parking. The Buchan Group prepared an exemplary contemporary design which will establish a new benchmark for quality architecture in the Berwick Activity Centre.

The Challenge:

The proposal raised many issues through the application process, including:
The provision of a contemporary form of architecture which responds appropriately to the finer grained character of much of the Berwick Activity Centre;
The delivery of a 5 storey building where local policy sought to limit development to 3 storeys;
The provision of an appropriate interface to the residential area to the north of the site;
Resolving traffic and parking issues, particularly access into and out of the site onto Lyall Road in close proximity to the princes Highway;
Resolving flooding issues through close consultation with Melbourne Water; and
Resolving issues associated with the relocation of infrastructure such as drainage pipes and powerlines. the site having regard to its business zoning and strategic context, located on the periphery of a Major Activity Centre.

The Approach:

Despite extensive pre-application consultation with Council Officers, the permit applicant was unable to gain Council support for the proposal. The matter received extensive local media coverage and the application received approximately 200 objections. After Casey City Council’s refusal of the application the permit applicant lodged an application for review with VCAT. Jeremy Gobbo QC and Susan Brennan, instructed by Norton Rose Lawyers ran the case assisted by a team of experts.

The Result:

In approving the proposed development, the Tribunal emphasised the strategic importance of major activity centres. In its order dated 11 May 2010, the Tribunal stated:
‘We acknowledge that this will introduce a substantial new building together with new levels of activity into this locality. The building and activity levels will have an impact on the amenity and character of this locality, and also on the traffic volumes around the centre. These impacts however have been well managed through the design of the proposal and are acceptable in the context of the Council’s policies for this centre specifically, and with broader policies about major activity centres generally’.
The decision of the Tribunal confirmed our initial view that this proposal represents wonderful opportunity for the Berwick Activity Centre, delivering social, economic and environmental benefits to the community.