APMAG Key Recommendations

1. Design Guidelines

That Yarra Council seek further independent advice following peer review of the Housing Diversity Report to ensure that the housing density and design guidelines are sufficient to meet community’s expectations surrounding height and density.

There is no justification for building heights stipulated and recommended by the DPO to be exceeded, as proposed. In particular, building heights along the sensitive river-front demand special attention.
Heights proposed along the northern (Heidelberg Road) boundary of the site are also
excessive, and are not justified on the heritage grounds offered.
Density of the site must not be allowed to exceed the capacity of infrastructure and
services, existing and introduced, that can support it in the long term.
That Yarra Council introduces an audit review of the design phase which involves both the re-instigation of the Design Review Panel and a mechanism for the community
involvement, to achieve a quality built form outcome that meets what has been promised in the Amcor development plan.

2. Heritage

That Yarra Council ensures that the community is engaged to consider potential options for the adaptive re-use of the 1921 APM building (No 1 and No 2 paper machines) and the Boiler House Turbine Building for community use such as a public gallery, library, and community facility or performing arts space or even an employment hub for new and emerging industries.
The heritage significance given by the development plan to the Heidelberg Road façade is not justified as holding neither local nor regional significance.

3. Landscape / Open Space

That the landscape concept plan is reviewed to deliver functional open spaces that are
within the public realm and are not privately owned and managed under a body
corporation.
Open space provision must be in keeping with DPO requirements at a minimum. The
Yarra river corridor and so-called “linear parks”, which are actually thoroughfares, should not be included in the mandatory open space provision.
Open spaces must provide for both such active and passive uses that are demanded by
the residents and users of the new development. The existence of existing open spaces
adjacent to the development site does not in any way obviate the need for open space to be provided on-site, and should not be taken into account in the meeting of that provision.
That a detailed design landscape concept plan needs to address permeability both within and through the site including more generous road widths to provide better access and integrate the new, with the existing community of Alphington.

4. Economic Assessment

That the economic assessment look beyond evaluating the business case for
supermarkets to the economic impact of the development on the current and proposed community.
That the economic assessment for supermarkets be revised with accurate geographical and existing service data.
That a more diverse food retail environment be fostered, with an emphasis on fresh,
independent, local food, resilient systems, genuine competition and low duplication with other big-box duopoly mall environments.
That supermarket floor space be limited in the Village Precinct to support this.

The City of Yarra as the Responsible Authority should have carriage of the conservation processes in relation to the 1921 APM boiler house and the Turbine Building. Moreover if the City of Yarra is responsible for the ongoing management and decision making rather than the developer it will ensure the adaptive re-use of the these buildings for new and emerging businesses to grow organically and pay lower rent.

5. Housing Diversity:

That and strong focus on integration and diversity be brought to the site plan to soften the demarcation between ‘affordable’ and prestige dwelling types, caused by stark zones within the development
That affordable housing consciously include the family market That the definition of affordability for apartments be measured against apartment benchmarks

6. Ecological Sustainable Design

That an integrated approach to energy management for the development be requested from the proponent (i.e. an Integrated Energy Management Plan, as with Transport). We would expect, for example, that a holistic and measureable process for minimising energy usage, and implementing on-site renewable energy would be available at this stage of the project, in order to ensure future decisions are reflective of an agreed, optimal approach from the outset.
That an overall integrated management approach to energy efficiency is achieved for the site with serious consideration given to a zero emission precinct, facilitated via an energy services company.

7. Traffic Management

That Yarra Council undertake a peer review of the Traffic report and require an
independent analysis and detailed design solution to the aspirations and goals presented for the site by development plan.
The Transport and Integrated Transport Plans that form part of the development plan we consider to be flawed in that they do not provide adequate modeling of the existing or new traffic situation and cannot be relied upon for informed decision making.
Solutions for safe pedestrian or bicycle movement throughout the site and linkages to the broader transport network and must also be a requirement of the final approved
Development Plan.

8. Riverfront

That Yarra Council should take ownership of the 30 metre setback from the river edge andconsider a mechanism such as S173 Agreement to levy the developers for the cost of anylandscape works associated with managing this important community asset.
That Yarra Council should involve the community with any decision making about the
riverfront given the Yarra River is a valued community asset.

Any use or improvement of the river corridor must:
 Respect and enhance the ecological significance of the river and environs
 Ensure maximum accessibility by all

9. Community Infrastructure

That independent, detailed analyses be undertaken to assess both capacities and current patronage of existing social and community infrastructure supports, and realistic, robust projections made to ensure delivery, as a condition of approval of a development plan, of additional educational, recreational and other facilities and services necessary to address and anticipate the long-term requirements of the significantly more populated Alphington/Fairfield locale that will result from the development. Such infrastructure must include (but is not limited to) primary and secondary school accessibility, early-years services, community services and facilities (e.g. Alphington Community Centre), multipurpose indoor sports courts, active and passive open spaces and recreational facilities, aged care services etc.
That Yarra Council puts in place, as a condition of approval of a development plan,
processes for ongoing detailed consultation with the community, including and beyond the scope of the Council auspiced Amcor Community Needs Analysis Working Group.