Woolworths Elsternwick apartment tower plan blocked a second time

Councillors said the proposal was still too dominating and were also concerned about traffic on Selwyn Street, the site of a planned pedestrian-friendly Jewish Arts Quarter

CONTROVERSIAL PLANS BY supermarket giant Woolworths to build two apartment towers and a grocery store at the ABC’s former studios in Melbourne’s south-east have been thrown out for a second time.

Glen Eira City councillors blocked the plans on Tuesday night, against the advice of council officers, after a long-running dispute that has already been through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and sparked protests.

VCAT described the previous application’s impact on heritage as being a “fatal flaw”, but agreed the site was well-connected to public transport and suitable for development.

Councillors on Tuesday unanimously agreed the proposal was still overly dominating and did not respect the low-rise heritage streets.

Councillors were also concerned the development would bring thousands of cars and trucks down residential streets around Selwyn Street, which is expected to be made more pedestrian-friendly under a plan for a Jewish Arts Quarter, and past the nearby Sholem Aleichem College primary school.

Woolworths Elsternwick apartment tower plan blocked a second time (SMH)

Photo: Elsternwick residents who opposed the Woolworths proposal for Selwyn Street (Joe Armao/Age)