CHANGING VIEWS: Developers push case for multi-storey building

DEVELOPERS behind a controversial apartment and office building at Portarlington’s Newcombe Street have hit back against criticism of their updated proposal, which they say has attracted greater public support.

Landowners returned to plans to build a four-storey building with retail space and 10 apartments at 49 Newcombe Street, on the northern side of the Bellarine town’s main strip.

The existing proposal, which closed for submissions last week, is slimmed down from the original proposal of five storeys and 13 apartments.

A spokesperson for the development syndicate, Greg Murray, said the reduced height and updated designs had been met with an improved reaction from residents that were invited to view the plans in recent weeks.

“We’ve had enormous support this time around, a lot more.

“[The Planning Minister] made an enormous amount of recommendations and changes that needed to be implemented before it could be supported, and we’ve done that. We were asked to go along and take the council with us, we’ve done all that.

“We believe that people should have the opportunity to object one way or the other.

“We’ve had the plans here and there have been scores of people come and look at the plans and say, ‘we had no idea that the amended plans are like this, it’s totally different to what we’ve heard about’.”

He said developers were confident the new building would improve Portarlington by providing an economic boost to the changing streetscape.

“It’s replacing a building here that’s an absolute eyesore – it’s falling down and is asbestos-ridden.

“It will provide accommodation for the town and it will provide employment for people.

“I think a lot of people have objected because it’s on this side of the street. The reality is a building was already on this side of the street, you don’t get a view anyway.

“All we’re doing is replacing the building with something that Portarlington can be proud of. It’s a stunning piece of land and the building will suit it.”

The Portarlington Community Association was among the leading voices against the plan’s former iteration and is again in opposition, claiming the “cosmetic changes” have done little to address the group’s fears of inappropriate development at the site.

The matter was due for a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing in mid-2021 before then-Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne called in the decision and eventually rejected the development at the end of that year.

The plan had been reduced to four storeys and 11 apartments by the time Mr Wynne made his final call.

A planning panel found the development failed to “provide a satisfactory urban design response including a positive contribution to the coastal character of the area, be reflective of local context and protect significant views”.