Wednesday’s Council meeting was an important milestone for Balaclava and St Kilda East, as Council approved the sale of council’s Albert St carpark land to Coles.
In August 2024, the previous Council initiated the sale of the land, requiring a full line supermarket, public toilets, open space, and public carparks in the future development.
I have been a strong critic of the terms of that initial sale proposal. I have maintained that the sale agreement must better reflect the community’s interests in Carlisle St, not just Coles’ best interest. I maintained that the sale should not go ahead until those community benefits had been secured.
The revitalisation of Carlisle St is critical to a thriving neighbourhood, and the investment from this development and new housing will enable this rejuvenation. But that investment can’t just benefit Coles, our local residents, visitors, and traders must also benefit.
Since my election last year, I have worked closely with Balaclava Councillor Libby Buckingham and our fellow councillors to advocate for better sale outcomes, in consultation with Better Balaclava and the wider community.
The community feedback showed support for the sale only if their concerns were addressed, reinforcing that the sale should only go ahead if we secured community benefits and consultation.
We instructed council officers to negotiate with Coles, delivering these commitments:
• Residential housing in the development
• Affordable housing
• Laneways and arcades for pedestrian permeability
• Multiple shopfront and plaza entrances along Carlisle St
• Consideration of solar access for Carlisle St
• Heritage protection of listed shopfronts
• Meaningful and good faith community consultation on the final designs
• Participation in several council-facilitated workshops
• High-quality architectural and urban design outcomes
• Enhancement of the public realm and landscaping
Ultimately, these commitments gave me confidence that the sale would help revitalise Carlisle St, would deliver community benefits, and the community would be consulted on the development proposal.
Council unanimously supported the sale on Wednesday night.
The sale is just the first step in this redevelopment. I’ll continue to represent residents and traders to ensure the projects deliver for our local community.
