Beach Street viewing platform under consideration

PLANS to demolish a house overlooking the Queenscliff harbour and build a larger, single-storey home with a concealed viewing platform are under consideration.

The planning application for 5 Beach Street received nine submissions which raised concerns about the heritage significance of the existing house, the viewing platform, amenity, lights and noise from the harbour, flood risk, height, materials, overshadowing, setbacks and the impact of a double garage.

However the report to this month’s planning review meeting said the existing “single-storey fibro dwelling with a red Colorbond roof” which sat behind a timber picket and green iron fence had no heritage value.

The applicant presented plans for the new Victorian-style home which is below the maximum permitted height of six metres, with a setback to match a neighbouring property.

A large palm tree on the property will be retained if the application is approved.

The Victorian-style facade would have a mix of weatherboards and cladding, a timber door and double-hung windows at the front with a hipped roof.

A spiral staircase at the rear of the home would provide access to a roof terrace between the two hipped roofs which would not be visible from Beach Street.

The council will consider submitters’ concerns, the site’s heritage and urban character overlays and a range of other planning controls before making a decision on the application.