Port units in tribunal date

Erin Pearson
MELBOURNE architectures have appealed a council decision rejecting a 13-unit development for Portarlington.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will now rule on the proposal for a former BP service station site on the corner of Newcombe and Sproat streets.
The proposal comprises a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units, underground car parking and a café.
A spokesperson for Clarke, Hopkins and Clarke Architects said the firm was surprised when council rejected the application because City Hall officers had given “no real indication” in “numerous” meetings that it would fail.
“It was quite a tedious and pointless process…and in the end it hasn’t helped the outcome of the project at all,” the spokesperson said.
“We won’t be drastically changing the designs but we might make a few slight amendments to the plans.”
The spokesperson said the proposal was “a nice piece of architecture” that would benefit the community.
“They have a choice: they can either stare at a nice piece of architecture or an old, disused service station for the next 10 years.”
Ward councillor John Doull said the proposal threatened to deliver an “eyesore” that was out of character with the area.