Purpose and background
A community meeting on the housing plan for the Kew VicRoads site at 60 Denmark Street was held at Kew RSL on 27 August 2024. The meeting was an opportunity for residents and other stakeholders to learn more about the proposal, and to share their feedback and concerns with the Member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan.
Invitations to the event were mailed to residents in nine streets proximate to the site. The event was also advertised on social media and on Monique Ryan’s website. Over 90 residents attended.
Presentations were given by A/Prof Rory Hyde (University of Melbourne School of Design) and Scott Walker (Director of Urban Living at City of Boroondara), followed by a Q and A session also involving Mayor Lisa Hollingsworth and Councillor Wes Gault.
Feedback provided in discussion, and in writing, has been collated and will be shared with the relevant Victorian government ministers in the coming weeks. This document outlines a summary of information provided about the site, key themes of constituent concerns, and planned next steps.
Site information
- The former Kew VicRoads site is 2.5 ha, with a tail connecting the site to Barkers Rd.
- The site currently has three buildings built in the 1960s, ranging in height from five to eight storeys.
- VicRoads ceased operations on the site at the beginning of 2024.
- The site is owned by the Victorian State government (crown land)
- The site is close to the popular Kew Junction shopping precinct and has a number of adjacent public transport and cycling routes.
- The land has been declared surplus by the Department of Transport and Planning.
Rezoning Proposal
- The Victorian Minister for Planning is currently considering whether to prepare, adopt and approve Draft Boroondara Planning Scheme Amendment C411boro at 60 Denmark Street, Kew.
- Consultation has been undertaken under section 20(5) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
- To recognise the land is no longer required for a public purpose and to allow its redevelopment, a planning scheme amendment was sought (in April) to make the following changes:
- Rezoning the rectangular portion of the site from Transport Zone 1 – State Transport Infrastructure (TRZ1) to the Commercial 1 Zone (CZ1);
- Rezoning the southern ‘tail’ of the site from Transport Zone 1 – State Transport Infrastructure (TRZ1) to the General Residential Zone (GRZ); and
- Application of an Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO) to the site.
- Boroondara Council supports the CZ1 rezoning but advocates for the tail to be rezoned for public park and recreation to enable pedestrian and cycle connections along the former rail corridor to Barkers Rd.
- It has been suggested that the site could be developed for 500 homes, and that the Victorian government may set a target of at least 10 per cent of affordable homes in this development.
- Urban design guidelines have been shared with the State Government by Council; these have focussed on shadow impacts, design excellence, visual bulk management, pedestrian and cycle links, and enhanced open space.
Key Themes from Community Feedback
Key considerations are social/affordable housing spread, traffic and shadow impacts, enhancement of open space, pedestrian and cycle links, management of visual bulk, design, incorporating high value trees.
Victorian government’s approach to community consultation
- Strong sense of disappointment in the Victorian State Government’s approach to consulting residents on this, and other, developments.
- Concerns regarding State Government’s tendency to bypass the Council on such projects.
- Trust in State Government to consider constituent concerns and implement their feedback is low.
- Questions were raised about what Council can do to enable better participation in state government decisions like this.
- Concern regarding who the ultimate decision-makers are for this project.
- Strong desire to “keep public land public.”
Housing affordability
- The importance of incorporating social and affordable housing was emphasized.
- Many attendees supported the notion of a higher target of social and affordable housing than the 10% currently being discussed.
- Concerns regarding the ongoing housing crisis and the need to house essential workers like nurses, paramedics, and childcare workers close to their places of work.
- Strong support for Nightingale model of affordable housing; Bills Street in Hawthorn was also discussed as a model.
- Concerns were raised about the lack of clarity around definitions of social and affordable housing, compared to public housing and how these terms are used.
- Several residents expressed concern about their own capacity to afford to live in the area in the future.
- Acceptance of need to increase density to allow room for people across a range of income levels and lifestyles to live in the area.
Sustainability & Environment
- New homes should be built sustainably and in line with strong environmental and energy-saving considerations. For example, high star energy rating and solar panel installation.
- Strong support for the site’s “tail” being a public park space.
- Many advocated for good public spaces within the main part of the site as well.
- Tree preservation was raised, particularly high-value trees on the site that could be incorporated into the development.
- Suggestion for vegetation between units and playgrounds.
Traffic and transport
- Concerns were raised about the capacity for Denmark Street to handle additional traffic, particularly impact on residents.
- Suggestions of an underground carpark to avoid overcrowding street parking.
- Concern that the area is not currently safe for pedestrians and cyclists and that this is an opportunity for improvement in community safety.
- Support for a shared path along the tail and through California Inn site to existing shared path.
- Desire to extend or add to existing public transport services.
- Concern about on-street parking on Denmark Street (should be discouraged)
Design and Aesthetics
- The importance of design excellence was emphasized, with considerations for shadow impacts, visual bulk management, and maintaining lines of sight.
- Some concerns were raised about preserving views to existing structures - i.e. Xavier College and sunset/sunrise views. Suggested solution was to leave gaps between buildings so some views can be maintained.
- Discussed the potential for the existing VicRoads buildings to be refurbished rather than demolished.
- Possible height of new buildings was discussed, including suggestion that new buildings to be no higher than those currently in place.
- Development needs to take into consideration the design of existing dwellings in the immediate area.
Health and Safety
- Pedestrian, cyclist, and child safety was raised in relation to extra traffic.
- Concerns regarding the possibility of asbestos in current buildings and safety during demolition.
- Area needs to be safe and accessible for children.
- Concerns about impact of construction work of local traffic, air quality etc.
- Drainage issues from Kew Junction down Denmark Street were mentioned.
Community
- Potential impact on school zoning for current residents.
- Impact on property values.
- Desire to foster a diverse community.
- Call for a mix of infrastructure providing community services and supports
Economic Considerations
- The high cost of developments, including taxes, materials, and labour, was discussed.
- There is a need for sufficient margins to make developments viable.