10 Dawson Street, Brunswick VIC 3056

This building is in a very sensitive position because of its proximity to the pool on its east and the library opposite. There is an important public interest in not shading the pool at any stage of the day, or making the entrance to the library and the main space inside the library which currently catches the sun, dark and unattractive, especially in Winter time. Many people use these public spaces and they are our lifeblood! The current building at 10 Dawson Street is low rise and good quality. The proposed building should not be high rise especially at the street - if it is designed well to be set back or staggered in height it might be work.

I note that there was a previous application at this location, sad that it has not yet gone ahead. This corridor is shaping up to be afocal point of Brunswick's sensible mid-rise revolution and more housing in this great location is a good thing, especially in a housing crisis.

The current building is ugly, with poor land use and in dire need of renwal for this intersection of two relatively major roads. With a train line, a tram track and a major bike trail, as well as major high street shops and supermarkets nearby this is the pinnacle of what comprises an ideal place for more mid-rise housing.

This building would look best if it were to complement the apperance of the Brunswick Baths next door. Shadowing should not be an issue at this height and angle relative to the pool, even in winter, and more people would love to live next to this facility. Setbacks and 'wedding cake' staggering only complicate the building process and increase prices, especially when more affordable housing is required.

The application is consistent with the relevant policies and objectives of the Merri-bek (Merri-bek/Moreland) Planning Scheme and should be supported.

The subject land is zoned Commercial Zone 1 (C1Z) in the Moreland Planning Scheme.

The proposal is a high quality contemporary response to the avant garde context of Brunswick and responds positively to Clause 32.04-14 of the Moreland Planning Scheme.

The Proposal will not generate any unreasonable visual bulk nor overshadowing of the public realm nor adjacent sites.

A significant rate of change is expected in the Activity Centre Zone, and concerns such as private space overlooking and overshadowing generally, if raised by other submitters are properly given minimal weight vis a vis the activity centre purpose and strategic context.

The height, scale and massing of the Proposal responds positively to the surrounding context and emerging character.

The street wall heights of the Proposal are sensitive to the context, appropriate in height and finishes.

The site has close proximity to Sydney Road, which is zoned Transport Road Zone 2 and which is under the control of the Department of Transport and Planning. Concurrence of the Head, Transport for Victoria will not be required due to there being insufficient proximity of the subject site to the state road network.

At times my submission may alternately refer to the local authority or planning scheme as being Moreland or Merri-bek, this reflects the recent transition of the nomenclature of the Council and its documents and that at times the former nomenclature has been retained.

The proposal responds positively to the Decision Guidelines and Strategic Context.

The Proposal responds positively to the Clause 43.02 Design and Development Overlay matters.

The Proposal responds positively to the Clause 65 VPP Matters.

The Proposal responds positively to the Strategic Context.

The Proposal responds positively to the Emerging Character.

The subject site is located upon the northern side of Dawson Street which adds support to any likely overshadowing being both brief and not unreasonable for the emerging character.

The Brunswick Baths are located North West of the subject site.

The Proposal does not overlook any sensitive sites nor any private open spaces of any nearby residential uses.

I have read and concur with, the Planning and Urban Context Report prepared for the Applicant by Contour.

A range of State Government and Moreland City Council policies have informed the development of the Brunswick Structure Plan. In turn, the Structure Plan will act as a tool to implement some elements of these policies.

Two key policies are the State Government’s Melbourne 2030:
Planning for Sustainable Growth (Melbourne 2030) and Council’s Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS).
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 41,200 people were living in the
Brunswick SLA in 2006, an increase of 4 per cent
since the 2001 census. The population grew more than in the previous census period (previously +1 per cent), with growth in Brunswick
East particularly strong at 8 per cent. Further increases are expected with the population
estimated to grow to 44,800 by 2021.
However, the current growth rate is significantly higher than forecast, and this suggests that these estimates may be conservative.
Household numbers in Brunswick grew at a faster rate than the population (5.9 per cent compared to a 3.3 per cent population
increase). The average household size is decreasing, and at 2.2 people per household, it is significantly smaller than the Melbourne average
of 2.6, and the Moreland average of 2.4 people. This is largely due to the high percentage of residents who live alone (30 per cent in 2006),
and a decline in family households consisting of couples with children (21 per cent in 2001 down to 19 per cent in 2006).

A summary of the housing issues facing the Activity Centre includes:
Increasing pressure for Brunswick to accommodate a substantial number of dwellings in response to Melbourne-wide population growth;
Higher density residential development often faces ***organised opposition*** by the local community [emphasis added];
A lack of open space for future residential development in many urban renewal areas within the Brunswick Activity Centre;
There is an identified lack of appropriate housing for particular socioeconomic groups;
There is a need for a diverse range of housing options for diverse mobility, income and cultural groups.

The State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) establishes that activity centres will be a focus for major retail, residential, commercial, administrative, entertainment and cultural developments, which provide a variety of land uses and are highly accessible to the community (Clause 11)

Melbourne 2030: Planning for Sustainable Growth (2002) identified Brunswick as a major activity centre in the hierarchy of metropolitan Melbourne’s activity centres and as a focus for high-quality development, activity and living.

Plan Melbourne 2017 – 2050 identifies the Brunswick Activity Centre as a major activity centre.

These centres are defined as suburban centres that provide access to a wide range of goods and services. They had different attributes and provide different functions, with
some serving larger subregional catchments. Major activity centres provide opportunities for more medium and higher-density development in middle suburbs close to jobs and services.
Clause 21.02-3 of the Moreland Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS), which
states: Council is committed to creating sustainable neighbourhoods where people can walk to shops and services, employment, schools, public transport, parks and community services.

The Moreland Activity Centre Framework 2014 contributes to Council’s vision for sustainable neighbourhoods by identifying a series of different sized activity
centres across the municipality.
Coburg, Brunswick and Glenroy Activity Centres are the larger centres in the framework.
These three centres are identified to accommodate the most significant change of all the activity
centres. Change and intensification should be consistent with the directions set out in the relevant zones and overlays and the following strategic plans – the Coburg Place Framework 2010 and Central Coburg 2020 Structure Plan 2006, the Brunswick Structure Plan 2010 and Addendum 2012, the Sydney Road/Upfield Corridor Strategic Framework Plan and the Glenroy Structure Plan 2008.

In Brunswick the largest household type is lone person households (28.2%), followed by couples without children (26.1%) and both have increased since 2011. Group households also form a significant proportion of households in Brunswick (16.5%). Households with children have dropped in terms of % and numbers in Brunswick.
The Sydney Road streetscape is experiencing significant redevelopment, and an emerging character is well established consisting of new mid-rise apartment buildings up to ten storeys comprising ground floor commercial uses and upper level dwellings, setback behind lower-scale streetwalls.

Clause 2.3.2 Housing in the Brunwick Structure Plan Reference Document 2018 states there is a need to significantly increase the number of dwellings to meet the expected population growth.
Clause 4.1.1 in the Brunswick Structure Plan Reference Document 2018 states Objectives to develop a vibrant activity centre by encouraging a range of land uses that support variety of activities, including higher density housing, industry, office, retailing, arts and entertainment, community services and cultural events.

Proposal responds positively to all Objectives within Brunswick Structure Plan Reference
Document 2018 4.2 Housing Proposal responds positively to Objectives within Brunswick Structure Plan Reference Document
2018 4.4 Transport and Movement.
Proposal responds positively to the Sydney Road/Upfield Corridor Strategic Framework

Proposal responds positively to Clause 32.04 Purpose of the Moreland (Merri-bek) Planning Scheme:
To implement the Municipal Planning Strategy and the Planning Policy Framework.
To provide for a range of residential, commercial, industrial and other uses which complement the mixed-use function of the locality.
To provide for housing at higher densities.
To encourage development that responds to the existing or preferred neighbourhood character of the area.
To facilitate the use, development and redevelopment of land in accordance with the objectives specified in a schedule to this zone.

Proposal responds positively to Clause 21.02 of the Municipal Strategic Statement C159 which states:
Significant growth is encouraged within Moreland’s three large Activity Centres and in Moreland’s twelve Neighbourhood Centres activity centres designated for growth (as listed below). Increased housing densities in the form of apartments and townhouses are encouraged in these activity centres. In these locations, neighbourhood character is expected to change over time, commensurate with the role and size of the centre in the overall network of centres.

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PARKING

The reduction in carparking, sought by the applicant is unremarkable and aligned with the emerging character of the area.

Indeed the appropriateness of a reduction in carparking to zero as sought by an Applicant in Brunswick was held by the Member in Cysur Developments Pty Ltd v Merri-bek CC [2023] VCAT 1104. The Member, concurred with numerous matters listed in my submission which I had placed in my Statement of Grounds to the Tribunal.

I am confident in the appropriateness of a carparking reduction both from a planning perspective, and that refusing a reduction in carparking requirements is not a defendable decision a Council can make in this matter.

Analysis of car ownership in 2021, indicates 25% of households in Brunswick had access to two or more motor vehicles, compared to 38% in City of Merri-bek. 20.6% of Brunswick households in 2021 had no car ownership.

On Census Day 2021 in Brunswick, 22.2% of people travelled to work in a private car, 9.3% took public transport and 9.8% rode a bike or walked. 44.4% worked at home.

The number of employed people in Brunswick increased by 1,572 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the method of travel to work by resident population in Brunswick between 2016 and 2021 were for those nominated:
Worked at home (+6,456 persons)
Tram (-1,602 persons)
Train (-1,523 persons)
Car - as driver (-1,223 persons)

The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Brunswick and City of Merri-bek were:
A larger percentage of persons who worked at home (44.4% compared to 36.1%)
A larger percentage of persons who travelled by bicycle (6.1% compared to 2.8%)
A larger percentage of persons who travelled by tram (4.7% compared to 2.5%)
A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by car (as driver) (21.1% compared to 34.5%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
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The proposal responds positively to the following:
Brunswick Structure Plan Reference Document 2018
1.5 Strategic Context
1.6 Planning Policy Context
Structure planning for Brunswick has been informed by the State and local planning policy
frameworks and other higher order strategic plans, as follows:
The State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) establishes that activity centres will
be a focus for major retail, residential, commercial, administrative,
entertainment and cultural developments, which provide a variety of land uses
and are highly accessible to the community (Clause 11).
Metropolitan planning strategy has established an expectation for sustainable
urban growth and the development of activity centres to provide communities
with convenient access to a wide range of goods and services and to facilitate
vibrant local economies.
Melbourne 2030: Planning for Sustainable Growth (2002) identified
Brunswick as a major activity centre in the hierarchy of metropolitan
Melbourne’s activity centres and as a focus for high-quality
development, activity and living.
Plan Melbourne 2017 – 2050 identifies the Brunswick Activity Centre
as a major activity centre. These centres are defined as suburban
centres that provide access to a wide range of goods and services.
They had different attributes and provide different functions, with
some serving larger subregional catchments. Major activity centres
provide opportunities for more medium and higher-density
development in middle suburbs close to jobs and services.
Clause 21.02-3 of the Moreland Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS)
2.1 Demographic Trends
The proposal responds positively to the surrounding context, the location on a declared road, the activity centre location, the Zoning, and the trends in household sizes and population.
2.2 Existing conditions
The emerging character is an eclectic one of increasing high density housing, significant
population growth and a diversity of housing types and the proposal responds positively to the emerging character of the area as well as the future vision for the area broadly defined in the City of Moreland Planning Scheme.

2.3 Key Issues
Activation, emerging character, under-utilisation of existing lands, revitalisation and the need to
avoid dereliction of the area.

3.1 Vision for Brunswick
This area will continue to develop as a lively urban space, sought after by new residents and small businesses, due to its good public transport connections, great local services and its place at the forefront of Melbourne’s cultural scene. Proposal responds positively to the vision.

3.2 Principles
7. Access, services, facilities and accommodation for all
People of all abilities, incomes and cultures will have access to public facilities, services
and housing within Brunswick.

4.1 THEME 1: LAND USE PATTERN AND ACTIVITY
BRUNSWICK ACTIVITY CENTRE
Positively responds to objectives and strategies:
4.1.2 Encourage a mix of uses, including retail, office, commercial, entertainment and
community, to strengthen the role of the three corridors as a major concentration of
activity and as a community and civic focus.
4.1.3 Support higher density residential development
4.2 Theme 2: Housing
Proposal responds positively to strategies and objectives.

4.4 THEME 4: TRANSPORT AND MOVEMENT
Reduction in carparking requirements respond positively to strategies and objectives.
The location of the site and reduction in carparking requirements respond positvely to the CIty of Moreland Climate Action Plan via a promotion by the proposal's design and chosen site, of increased active and public transport use.
There is an emerging character of 17 metre preferred heights in the DDO for the Sydney Road corridor.

This highlights the true emerging character of the area as one of increasing housing densities close to declared roads in Major Activity Centres.
Indeed the emerging character of the site and surrounds is one of high population growth,
increasing housing heights and density, eclectic and ambitious design vision, and mixed use construction in activity centres.
Noting in detail the true emerging character of the area and that "context" includes emerging character as captured by both existing recent development activity and the Moreland City Council Planning Scheme documents, I would support the granting of a permit.
Perhaps the expectations of the surrounding residents need to be managed, noting the emerging character and future vision of Council articulated for the area in the planning scheme.
Given the emerging character, planning scheme and surrounding uses, overshadowing impacts of the proposal are unremarkable totally, rather than what has been previously suggested by other submitters.
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The Proposal is an "acceptable planning outcome" and Knox v Tulcany confirms that "acceptable" is the standard that needs to be met by planning applications. So planning proposals do not need to be ideal or perfect, but equally they cannot be sub-standard.

Knox CC v Tulcany [2004] VSC 375 18 VPR 229
Rozen & Anor v Macedon Ranges Shire Council & Anor [2010] VSC 583 (14 December 2010)
Cysur Developments Pty Ltd v Merri-bek CC [2023] VCAT 1104

Claims of improving to the greenspace to what is an extremely desolate zone are false. The proposal effectively spells out the problem during the first 25 pages but offers 1 tree as its solution. Grossly inadequate. There is a need for more housing and the floor plans are efficient and comfortable. The proposal however, totally lacks inspiration and misses an opportunity to provide meaningful value to a prime location. Dull and soulless in material selection and even less aspirational with composition.

It is simply a big lump of concrete plonked in the middle of lovely little hub. Imagine how well a green zone in this space would serve the surrounding context. If it has to be residences, there needs to be more balance between housing and and ground level landscaping. Firstly, remove ground level car parking and increase green zone. Add spaces beneath ground only if absolutely required.

We do not need to desperately pander to demand. Scarcity and the areas current livability creates a desperation for terrible, quick, cheap development and here stand council by the gate to disaster with indifference. Very soon, because of developments like this, no one will want to LIVE here anymore.