There is a once in a generation change happening in the Coles precinct in Balaclava. That change could be either amazing or amazingly bad. Change is needed. The supermarket is too small and the car park has several failures. The secretive Port Phillip Council, however, is providing poor leadership. I am terrified it will be a huge lost opportunity and the signs are ominous.
There are several things about this site. First, things are obviously happening but it is all in secret. It is unacceptable.
Moreover, Coles is spending a fortune buying up land and shops in order to make a huge redevelopment. That will take years and so under the new ownership we are losing vital businesses because they have no security of tenure. Little Hen, the beloved organic food shop is gone. My barber was only offered a really short lease so he is moving. Coles is killing the place. I know you can’t make an omelet without breaking an egg, but this process is awful for the Balaclava. It is increasingly like a ghost town and we are ages away from completion.
As well, and most important to me, is the car park. It could be an enormous addition to green open space. The car park could be shoved underground or under the Coles and that could be a major open space opportunity. There are some magnificent trees on the car park but it is just a car park that is too small on the weekend.
Fourthly, the Council could be a really important player as it owns land. Usually, councils don’t have too much say over new developments because they come in at the end of the process and tick off a few planning boxes. But this is different because Council actually owns land on the site. Council owns over 2200 square metres of the car park or about half of the Coles car park is owned by Council. Decades ago in the early 1960s, when the car park was created, the council contributed (and still continues to own) two properties on Alfred and Nelson Streets and several old night cart lanes. These properties were all “mushed” together with land owned by the then owner of the Coles site to make the car park that is there today. Council used to own the other car park behind Woolworths but months ago sold it to Woolies. The Woolworth’s deal was a betrayal of any opportunity to control the outcome on that site which promises to become a sterile mixed and massive development. There will be little contribution to community amenity.
Last Wednesday, the Council started the process to sell their Coles car park land holdings. The community is again totally betrayed.
Serious questions remain unanswered
Why would you deal with a commercial operator like Coles that has no reputation for design excellence or community aspiration?
Why would you give away your only real bargaining chip for a pittance that is not a competitive process?
Why would you sacrifice the last major opportunity for generations to contribute open space to this crowded area?
Why would the report be written not by planners or inspired designers but land managers with no evidence of community concern?
How is it that we do not have an open and transparent conversation about this site?
Where was the consultation about this generational opportunity or threat?
How long do we have to endure the economic stagnation that is already starting to leach wealth and vivacity out of the area as businesses close or leave?
The Council has started to give away their leverage in the Woolworth’s site. Stop now and converse on this amazing huge site and bring on a transparent, excellently designed outcomes for a community starved of open green space.
Dick Gross AM, candidate in the Alma Ward in the elections in October.
