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1. This proposed development is on Ballarat’s historic Bakery Hill, the site of the ‘monster meetings’ which took place in the lead up to events at the Eureka stockade.

   The expert panel which considered the development in 2015 had regard to the State Planning Policy framework which includes the following objectives -
   • To recognise and protect cultural identity, neighbourhood character and sense of place.
   • To ensure the conservation of places of heritage significance.

   In his expert witness statement Roger Beeston made the following points -
   •The subject site has a likely historical association with the mass protest meetings which occurred on Bakery Hill in the lead up to the 1854 Eureka rebellion. The meetings themselves are events of considerable cultural significance and it is considered that they are of at least State significance, and potentially of National significance or even World significance for their historic and social values.
   •Due to the likely historical association of the site with the mass protest meetings of 1854, I recommend consideration be given to the retention of some open space at the subject site for public use for the purpose of recognising and interpreting the cultural significance of the mass protest meetings. Preferably this space would be in the more elevated northern part of the site, because that is the area considered likely to have been associated with the meetings.
   •An archaeologist should be engaged to advise on post-contact archaeological potential.

   The Panel concluded that “The proposed public reserve and commemorative material in the northern area of the site are appropriate and should be a planning permit requirement”

   A proposed permit included two clauses relating this conclusion -
   2 g. provide a public reserve at the north western perimeter of the site and an historical interpretative area, and improvements, which illustrate the historical context of the site;
   and
   7. The interpretative public reserve required by condition 2(g) must be constructed prior to the Statement of compliance for the first stage and be vested in the Council, without cost, as a reserve in the first plan of subdivision of the land, all to the satisfaction of the responsible authority.

   However I understand that the permit as issued by Ballarat Council no longer included either of these conditions. In view of the historic importance of this site the reinstatement of these conditions is essential and in fact would represent the bare minimum protection of this area.

   The “PERFORATED SCREENS WITH IMAGES OF OLD BALLARAT TO BALCONIES FACING ST PAULS WAY” are presumably an attempt to present the development as being sensitive to the heritage of the area. This can only be described as highly insulting to Ballarat as a historic city and a leading member of the HUL initiative. The images shown on the application – views of Sturt Street and Bridge Street – are of areas which have no obvious link to Bakery Hill.

   In addition to the heritage issues this whole development has a number of significant short comings.
   • Work done on the site so far has resulted in the removal of a substantial number of mature trees – apparently in contravention of previous permits.
   • The designs pictured in the application appear to represent quite outdated and unimaginative buildings – which have prompted comments such as ‘cheap and nasty’ and ‘why didn’t they use an architect?’
   • The Marvella Skywalk ‘Luxury Apartments’, although all on upper levels above car parking, there appears to be only very limited provision for disabled access via a single ramp to only one of the two residential levels. This ramp does not provide access to the car parking spaces for these apartments.
   • Internal dimensions of passage ways in some of the apartments also appear to be such as to limit access by wheelchairs.

   I therefore strongly object to the current application and ask that no permit be approved without major amendments being required.

2. This is a significant historic site and some parkland should be set aside for commemoration of the Ballarat Reform League's Monster Meetings held in October 1854. The establishment of a commemorative space on the site has been acknowledged by Council and independent advisors in the past.

   Page 21 of the 2015 Independent Panel Report, Ballarat Planning Scheme Amendment C19, Planning Permit Application No PLP/2014/829 noted: 'Council agreed that there should be some form of commemoration on the site and also that the revised planning permit conditions provided for this (footnote 4: Condition 2g in the revised planning permit conditions requires: ‘the identification of a public reserve at the north western perimeter of the site and an historical interpretative area, and improvements, which illustrate the historical context of the site’.)

   Reference was also made to Mr Beeston’s evidence and conclusion that the site's association with the Monster Meetings of 1854, warranted retention of some open space on site for public use for recognising and interpreting the cultural significance of the Meetings. 'Preferably this space would be in the more elevated northern part of the site, because that is the area considered likely to have been associated with the meetings.'

   The adhesive, translucent imagery drawing on historical photos, appliquéd to the balcony balustrading, is quite inadequate as a way of commemorating the significance of this historic site and arguably inappropriate as an installation on private property. One can easily imagine that future property owners will baulk at having to replicate the imagery in the event of repairs being necessary. The 2015 discussion of what would be appropriate, notes space for public gathering and cultural interpretation. The current plans fail to provide this and should thus be required to be amended accordingly.

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