August 18th 2011

Page 1

Features inside:

Frankston

Now

AROUND THE PENINSULA PAGES 17–19

published

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT PAGES 20–22

fortnightly

SPORTS DESK PAGE 23

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Reach for the sky By Keith Platt THE Planning Minister Matthew Guy may hold the key to Frankston’s skyline, according to developers wanting to build a 20-storey building in Nepean Highway. Although the plans were knocked by Frankston councillors last week, father and son team Greg and Sean Farmer see the decision as just the first round of their bid to build the city’s tallest building. “You always do get knocked back [at first] and the next process is to go to the planning minister,” Sean Farmer said. Coincidentally, Mr Guy may also decide the future of the second tallest tower planned for Frankston, now held up by an objection lodged with the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal. Developer Ross Voci had asked council to request Mr Guy to “call in” and fast track his plans for a 13-storey apartment building Davey St as delays were costing him about $1000 a day in interest payments. The 60 metre high building proposed by the Farmers is opposite the city’s current highest structure, the 12-storey Peninsula Centre. It includes 357 apartments in three towers. The site is bookended by La Porchetta restaurant to the north and Frankston HiFi to the south. Planning regulations set a 20-metre height limit in that area. The Peninsula Centre was recently taken off the market by the Deague family which has signaled its intention to proceed with earlier plans to spend $50 million turning it into a corporate hotel.

While other developers may be waiting in the wings to see what transpires with the latest bids to breathe life into the ailing city centre, council has decided to leave its own plans for a marina at Oliver Hill in the deep freeze (see Page 3). Greg Farmer said he and his son knew planning regulations prohibited council approving “something as tall” as their 20-storey proposal. He saw going to the planning minister as “a position option” for the project which would be “a fantastic thing for Frankston”. “This would change the whole nature of the place, making this a very attractive area, something Frankston could do with. “I think Frankston is overdue for some decent activity like this. It would bring more people in close to the shopping centre, living in a high rise between the highway and the beach.” Greg Farmer said the plan was to build in three stages, although they would only draw up precise plans “once we know what we can do”. The planning permit application unanimously refused by council for the 20-storey building at 438-448 Nepean Highway said the decision was based on the proposal failing to comply with the mandatory height requirements; not receiving backing from VicRoads; being overdevelopment of the site and not visually integrating with the surrounding locality; overshadowing; not having a loading bay; too little car parking; and failing to undertake wind tunnel tests.

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Hands on help:

Frankston wildlife rescuer Michelle Thomas of Animalia Wildlife Shelter with Tully the female baby wombat who was rescued after her mother was killed by a truck. Picture: Alison Kuiter. Story Page 4

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